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2023 Best Value Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $75-$110k) in California

11 Ranked Colleges
328 Degrees Awarded
$33,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 California, there were 328 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking looked at 11 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in music theory and composition. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality music theory and composition programs that also have a lower cost than 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.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 in California For Those Making $75-$110k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k.

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (Income $75-$110k) in California

1

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s music composition students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $20,697 for california music composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of California - Los Angeles.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Music Theory & Composition Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Barbara. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k. UCSB is a large school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 7 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our california music composition students whose families make $75-$110k list, UCSB has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Barbara is $21,581 for California Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at UCSB

3
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

USC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Southern California is $32,363 for California Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Southern California

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Cruz. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.

UC Santa Cruz also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Santa Cruz is $22,380 for California Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of California - Santa Cruz Music Theory & Composition Report

5
University of Redlands crest
University of Redlands
Redlands, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Redlands. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k. This small school is located in Redlands, California, and it awarded 3 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.

University of Redlands also took the #6 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Redlands is $23,742 for california music composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Redlands

6
Biola crest
Biola University
La Mirada, California

Biola University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #6. Biola is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Mirada, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Biola did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Biola is $32,788 for california music composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Biola

7
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

Chapman University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. Chapman University is a medium-sized school located in Orange, California that handed out 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our california music composition students whose families make $75-$110k list, Chapman has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Chapman is $42,077 for california music composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Chapman University

8
SFCM crest
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco, California

San Francisco Conservatory of Music did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #8. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 5 ’s music composition degrees in 2020-2021.

SFCM also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $32,635 for california music composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend SFCM.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 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 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at SFCM

9
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #9. Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california music composition students whose families make $75-$110k list, Academy of Art University has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Academy of Art University is $40,983 for California Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Academy of Art University

10
CalArts crest
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California

California Institute of the Arts did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #10. CalArts is located in Valencia, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

CalArts also made our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend California Institute of the Arts is $58,534 for california music composition students whose families make $75-$110k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at CalArts

11
LA Film School crest
Los Angeles Film School
Hollywood, California

Los Angeles Film School ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools in California For Those Making $75-$110k list. Hollywood, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 181 students in 2020-2021.

LA Film School did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Schools in California” list. It costs about $38,533 for California Music Composition students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Los Angeles Film School.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Los Angeles Film School

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