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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (With Aid)

52 Ranked Colleges
310 Degrees Awarded
$31,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Music Theory & Composition is the 415th most popular major in the country with 1,117 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 310 music theory and composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 52 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Music Theory & Composition (With Aid)

#1

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Yale University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Yale is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New Haven, Connecticut. It awarded 7 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Yale, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Yale are $44,500.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Yale

#2

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brooklyn College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Brooklyn College is a fairly large public school situated in Brooklyn, New York. It awarded 16 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Brooklyn College

#22 in overall quality

Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294.

Full UW Seattle Music Theory & Composition Report

#4

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

Out of the 52 schools in the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Greensboro, North Carolina, and it awarded 2 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Greensboro are $21,918, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

#5

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#24 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 6 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree music composition students with aid list, Florida State has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Florida State University

#6 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree music composition students with aid list, U-M has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Music Theory & Composition Report

#7

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Rice University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Rice is located in Houston, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

Rice also took the #4 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Rice are $47,913.

Full Rice Music Theory & Composition Report

#8

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#15 in overall quality

Michigan State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Michigan State is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

Michigan State also took the #15 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Michigan State University

#9

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school situated in Youngstown, Ohio. It awarded 2 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Youngstown State University Music Theory & Composition Report

#10

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Missouri - Kansas City

#11

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359.

Full Central Michigan Music Theory & Composition Report

Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full ASU - Tempe Music Theory & Composition Report

With a ranking of #13, University of Central Oklahoma did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. UCO is a fairly large school located in Edmond, Oklahoma that handed out 2 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Oklahoma are $17,913, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Central Oklahoma

#14

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York

University at Buffalo did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. University at Buffalo is a public institution located in Buffalo, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University at Buffalo are $26,028, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University at Buffalo

#15

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky
#25 in overall quality

University of Kentucky came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. UK is a large school located in Lexington, Kentucky that handed out 2 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

UK also took the #25 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UK are $33,216, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UK Music Theory & Composition Report

#16

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon

University of Oregon ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Oregon is a large public school situated in Eugene, Oregon. It awarded 3 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UO are $29,991, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Oregon Music Theory & Composition Report

#17

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#5 in overall quality

Johns Hopkins University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425.

Full Johns Hopkins University Music Theory & Composition Report

#18

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. WMU is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at WMU are $31,355, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at WMU

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. BGSU is located in Bowling Green, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus are $15,823.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at BGSU

#20

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Northwestern University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s music composition students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Northwestern University

Kent State University at Kent did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Kent State University at Kent is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 4 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State University at Kent are $21,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Kent State University at Kent

#22

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, Boston University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Boston University is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

Boston U also took the #3 spot in our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boston University are $57,666.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Boston University

#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #23, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. UC is a large school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 10 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

UC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Music Theory & Composition Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

University of Akron Main Campus came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s music composition degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of Akron Main Campus

#25

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #25, Temple University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Composition Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Temple is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 4 masters’s music composition degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Temple are $24,236, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Temple

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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