2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 1,117 people earned their degree in music theory and composition, making the major the 415th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 253 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 13 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 4 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the music theory and composition program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The music composition school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california doctor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 4 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $48-$75k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

#1 in overall quality

$55,011 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Stanford

#2

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

#1 in overall quality

$48,715 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715.

Full USC Music Theory & Composition Report

#3

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

#3 in overall quality

$28,952 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Cruz. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified doctorate’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952.

Full UC Santa Cruz Music Theory & Composition Report

#4

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California

#2 in overall quality

$53,466 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of the Arts landed the #4 spot on the list. California Institute of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Valencia, California. It awarded 4 doctorate’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree music composition students whose families make $48-$75k list, CalArts has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CalArts are $53,466.

Full CalArts Music Theory & Composition Report

• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $48-$75k) in the Far Western US Region
• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $48-$75k)

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

Footnotes

• *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.

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