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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Music Theory & Composition in the Far Western US Region

33 Ranked Colleges
$38,800 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2021-2022, 1,194 people earned their degree in music theory & composition, making the major the 390th most popular in the United States.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 331 music theory & composition graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking, we looked at 33 colleges that offer a degree in music theory & composition. That schools that top this list have a program in music theory & composition in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region music composition students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Music Theory & Composition in the Far Western US Region

1
LACM crest
Los Angeles College of Music
Pasadena, California

Out of the 33 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Los Angeles College of Music landed the #1 spot on the list. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 13 students 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.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Los Angeles College of Music

2
LA Film School crest
Los Angeles Film School
Hollywood, California

Out of the 33 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Los Angeles Film School landed the #2 spot on the list. Los Angeles Film School is a private for-profit institution located in Hollywood, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 167 ’s 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%.

Full LA Film School Music Theory & Composition Report

3

Out of the 33 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of the Arts landed the #3 spot on the list. CalArts is a small school located in Valencia, California that handed out 27 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at CalArts

4
Musicians Institute crest
Musicians Institute
Hollywood, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Musicians Institute. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region. Musicians Institute is a small school located in Hollywood, California that handed out 14 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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

5
SFCM crest
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Francisco Conservatory of Music. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.

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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at SFCM

6

With a ranking of #6, DigiPen Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region list. DigiPen Institute of Technology is located in Redmond, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Digipen Music Theory & Composition Report

7
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region list. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 28 ’s music composition degrees 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 more about Music Theory & Composition at Academy of Art University

8
Lewis and Clark College crest
Lewis & Clark College
Portland, Oregon

Lewis & Clark College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #8. Lewis & Clark College is located in Portland, Oregon and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, 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 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Lewis & Clark College

9
Bushnell University crest
Bushnell University
Eugene, Oregon

Bushnell University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Eugene, Oregon, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 0 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Bushnell University

10
Biola crest
Biola University
La Mirada, California

Biola University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #10. Located in La Mirada, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Biola Music Theory & Composition Report

11

12
University of Redlands crest
University of Redlands
Redlands, California

With a ranking of #12, University of Redlands did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region list. This small school is located in Redlands, California, and it awarded 8 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Redlands

13
CWU crest
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, Washington

Central Washington University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. CWU is located in Ellensburg, Washington and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Full CWU Music Theory & Composition Report

14
UO crest
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon

University of Oregon landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. This large school is located in Eugene, Oregon, and it awarded 7 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at University of Oregon

15
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California

With a ranking of #15, California Baptist University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Riverside, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s music composition students in 2021-2022.

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 Cal Baptist

16
WWU crest
Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington

Western Washington University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region list. WWU is located in Bellingham, Washington and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 full report on Music Theory & Composition at WWU

17

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region list. UCSB is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full UCSB Music Theory & Composition Report

18
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

Chapman University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Chapman University is located in Orange, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Chapman

19
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region list. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at USC

20
Pacific crest
University of the Pacific
Stockton, California

University of the Pacific came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Pacific is a medium-sized school located in Stockton, California that handed out 3 ’s music composition degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Pacific Music Theory & Composition Report

21
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

Washington State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Pullman, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music Theory & Composition at Wazzu

22

Portland State University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region list. Portland State University is located in Portland, Oregon and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 full report on Music Theory & Composition at Portland State University

23

University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified ’s music composition students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at University of California - Santa Cruz

24

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 ’s music composition degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, 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 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UW Seattle Music Theory & Composition Report

25
Pepperdine crest
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

Pepperdine University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Music Composition Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #25. Malibu, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s music composition degrees to 0 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read full report on Music Theory & Composition at Pepperdine

Notes and References

References

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