by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Music Theory & Composition is the 390th most popular major in the country with 1,194 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major” ranking looked at 197 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in music theory & composition. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in music theory & composition.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major” list to help you make the college decision.
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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Los Angeles College of Music. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. LACM is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 13 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Los Angeles Film School. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. Los Angeles Film School is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in Hollywood, California. It awarded 167 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at LA Film School
Out of the 197 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major that were part of this year’s ranking, The New England Conservatory of Music landed the #3 spot on the list. The New England Conservatory of Music is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 12 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
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. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at The New England Conservatory of Music
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of the Arts. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major. CalArts is located in Valencia, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 27 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Out of the 197 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Berklee College of Music landed the #5 spot on the list. Berklee College of Music is a medium-sized school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 211 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Berklee College of Music
Longy School of Music of Bard College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking, coming in at #6. Longy School of Music of Bard College is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.
Full Longy School of Music of Bard College Music Theory & Composition Report
With a ranking of #7, Musicians Institute did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. Musicians Institute is a small private for-profit school situated in Hollywood, California. It awarded 14 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Musicians Institute
Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music is a public institution located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music
Vermont College of Fine Arts did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking, coming in at #9. Vermont College of Fine Arts is a small school located in Montpelier, Vermont that handed out 15 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 ranking of #10, The Juilliard School did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. Located in New York, New York, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at The Juilliard School
Cleveland Institute of Music landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. This small school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 1 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Cleveland Institute of Music
San Francisco Conservatory of Music ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. SFCM is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 9 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
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 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at San Francisco Conservatory of Music
DigiPen Institute of Technology landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Redmond, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% 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 ranking of #14, Manhattan School of Music did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. Manhattan School of Music is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 19 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Manhattan School of Music
With a ranking of #15, Purchase College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. Located in Purchase, New York, this small public school awarded 18 degrees to qualified ’s music composition students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Purchase College
Academy of Art University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking, coming in at #16. San Francisco, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 28 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Academy of Art University
Lawrence University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking, coming in at #17. Lawrence University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Appleton, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Lawrence University
Western Connecticut State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. This small school is located in Danbury, Connecticut, and it awarded 11 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.
Full Western Connecticut State University Music Theory & Composition Report
Lewis & Clark College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. This small school is located in Portland, Oregon, and it awarded 3 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Lewis & Clark College
With a ranking of #20, SUNY Fredonia did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. SUNY Fredonia is a small public school situated in Fredonia, New York. It awarded 3 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%.
Five Towns College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking, coming in at #21. Five Towns College is a small private for-profit school situated in Dix Hills, New York. It awarded 0 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
With a ranking of #22, Houghton College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. Located in Houghton, New York, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Houghton College
Hardin - Simmons University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Hardin - Simmons University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Abilene, Texas. It awarded 2 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.
Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Hardin - Simmons
Oakwood University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major ranking. Oakwood University is a small school located in Huntsville, Alabama that handed out 0 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 ranking of #25, Ithaca College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major list. Ithaca is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 3 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Not only did these schools make the top 30 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Read more about our data sources and methodologies