2023 Best Value Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
19
Ranked Colleges
223
Degrees Awarded
$18,400
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 1,175 people earned their degree in music theory and composition, making the major the 390th most popular in the United States.
Across the Middle Atlantic region, there were 223 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered a degree in music theory and composition. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent music theory and composition programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the music theory and composition program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Music Theory & Composition Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 19 Best Value Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia University in the City of New York. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Columbia is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 6 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia University in the City of New York is $4,699 for Middle Atlantic Region Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Columbia University in the City of New York Music Theory & Composition Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johns Hopkins University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.
Johns Hopkins did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. It costs about $4,859 for middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Johns Hopkins.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Johns Hopkins University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brooklyn College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Brooklyn, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.
Brooklyn College also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $3,105 for middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Brooklyn College.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Brooklyn College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Carnegie Mellon University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This fairly large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 4 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k list, Carnegie Mellon has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Carnegie Mellon is $13,608 for middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Carnegie Mellon
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Rochester. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Rochester, New York, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 11 degrees to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Rochester, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Rochester is $17,764 for middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Rochester
SUNY Fredonia did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. SUNY Fredonia is a public institution located in Fredonia, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SUNY Fredonia, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. It costs about $12,501 for Middle Atlantic Region Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SUNY Fredonia.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at SUNY Fredonia
University of Maryland - Baltimore County did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. UMBC is a fairly large public school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 4 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMBC, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Maryland - Baltimore County is $14,328 for middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at UMBC
University at Buffalo landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Buffalo, New York, this large public school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.
University at Buffalo also took the #16 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University at Buffalo is $17,022 for Middle Atlantic Region Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University at Buffalo Music Theory & Composition Report
Temple University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Temple is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
Temple did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. It costs about $19,355 for Middle Atlantic Region Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Temple.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Temple
Syracuse University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Syracuse, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k list, Syracuse has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Syracuse University is $19,737 for middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Syracuse Music Theory & Composition Report
With a ranking of #11, Purchase College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Purchase, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
Purchase College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. It costs about $17,483 for middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Purchase College.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Purchase College
Ithaca College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ithaca College is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 11 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Ithaca not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. It costs about $25,636 for Middle Atlantic Region Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ithaca College.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Ithaca College
New York University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.
NYU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for NYU is $24,131 for Middle Atlantic Region Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at NYU
The Juilliard School ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 13 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Juilliard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Juilliard is $22,765 for middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Juilliard
Catholic University of America came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. CUA is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k list, CUA has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Catholic University of America is $27,863 for middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at CUA
With a ranking of #16, Rider University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rider is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. It awarded 5 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.
Rider also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Rider University is $22,338 for Middle Atlantic Region Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Rider
Nazareth College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Nazareth is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rochester, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Nazareth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Nazareth is $24,679 for middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Nazareth Music Theory & Composition Report
With a ranking of #18, Manhattan School of Music did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
Manhattan School of Music also took the #12 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Manhattan School of Music is $19,111 for middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Manhattan School of Music
The New School ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our middle atlantic region music composition students whose families make $30-$48k list, New School University has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for New School University is $39,370 for Middle Atlantic Region Music Composition students whose families make $30-$48k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at New School University
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
