2027 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools in New York
[Music Theory & Composition](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value music theory & composition schools.
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2027 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools in New York
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
Leading the list is Cuny Brooklyn College, our #1 best value for music theory & composition in New York. 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. Students borrow a median of $13,303 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $16,996. That is a strong return on a $13,303 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Queens College one of the best values for music theory & composition. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $12,157 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $27,902. Set against $12,157 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Fredonia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music theory & composition, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,831 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,771. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $27,000. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $35,849. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny College At Potsdam earned it the #4 place for music theory & composition. Set in the town of Potsdam, Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,768, with out-of-state students paying around $18,678. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $32,485. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Suny At Purchase College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. Students from in state pay about $9,016 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Students borrow a median of $22,179 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $22,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Houghton College placed #6 among the best values for music theory & composition. Located in the rural area of Houghton, Houghton College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,430. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $24,725 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $26,934. That is a strong return on a $24,725 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #7 among the best values for music theory & composition. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $32,924 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Five Towns College landed the #8 spot for music theory & composition value this year. Located in the suburb of Dix Hills, Five Towns College is a small private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,250. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $27,750 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $25,554. That is a strong return on a $27,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
University Of Rochester ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $67,080 in tuition and fees. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $26,769 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $27,409. That is a strong return on a $26,769 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Nazareth College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,210 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $26,185. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $44,626. Set against $26,185 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Ithaca College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,616. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $23,119 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Ithaca College admits about 69% of applicants.
New York University earned the #12 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $25,000. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $28,287. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University came in at #13 for value in music theory & composition this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $26,130 in student loans. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $18,574 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,130 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
The Juilliard School landed the #14 spot for music theory & composition value this year. The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,950. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $14,101. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Manhattan School Of Music earned the #15 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Manhattan School Of Music is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,050. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Manhattan School Of Music generally make around $18,441. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Manhattan School Of Music admits about 41% of applicants.
The New School placed #16 among the best values for music theory & composition. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,730. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $24,000. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $15,510. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The New School admits about 64% of applicants.
More Music Theory & Composition Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
