2027 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools
[Music Theory & Composition](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong music theory & composition education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 130 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for music theory & composition students.
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Finding the Best Value Music Theory & Composition School for You
The right music theory & composition school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
Customizing Your List
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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2027 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music theory & composition degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools
For return on investment in music theory & composition, no school beat Cuny Brooklyn College this year. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. In-state tuition and fees average $7,452, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $13,303. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $16,996. Set against $13,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Stanford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music theory & composition, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music theory & composition will find it at Florida State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $23,992 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $26,311. That is a strong return on a $23,992 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music theory & composition will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $19,397 in student loans. Music Theory & Composition graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $29,641 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,397 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $23,119. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $18,823. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Queens College earned the #6 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Cuny Queens College is a large public school located in the city of Queens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $27,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Rice University landed the #7 spot for music theory & composition value this year. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $30,454. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University placed #8 among the best values for music theory & composition. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
El Centro College earned the #9 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $14,557 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $41,295. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Georgia ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $22,344 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $24,514. That is a strong return on a $22,344 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #11 spot for music theory & composition value this year. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $23,089 in student loans. Music Theory & Composition graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $32,144 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #12 spot for music theory & composition value this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $24,315. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Oakland University earned the #13 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $25,972 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $54,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #14 for value in music theory & composition this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Music Theory & Composition graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $25,536 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Valley City State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Valley City State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Valley City. In-state tuition and fees average $8,580, compared with $13,544 for out-of-state students. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $25,074 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $48,241. Set against $25,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Valley City State University admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #16 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $65,681. That is a strong return on a $16,481 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas landed the #17 spot for music theory & composition value this year. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,748, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $31,000. Music Theory & Composition graduates of University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn a median of $50,039 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nevada Las Vegas admits about 96% of applicants.
Wichita State University earned the #18 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $49,278. That is a strong return on a $24,262 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $21,504 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $26,653. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Utah placed #20 among the best values for music theory & composition. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $16,500. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $60,527. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,444, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $15,501 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $45,488. That is a strong return on a $15,501 median debt. The acceptance rate is 33%.
Stark State College placed #22 among the best values for music theory & composition. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $42,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Texas earned the #23 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $24,456 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $36,763. That is a strong return on a $24,456 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Idaho ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,084, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Students borrow a median of $23,844 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Music Theory & Composition graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $43,246 early in their careers. Set against $23,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Portland State University placed #25 among the best values for music theory & composition. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $27,846 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $17,638. Set against $27,846 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s music theory & composition value ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 130 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 130 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
