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Music Theory and Composition

Music Theory and Composition

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#1 #1 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. The Juilliard School New York, NY At The Juilliard School, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Stringed Instruments, Dance, General, and Keyboard Instruments. In fact, The Juilliard School awards 44 degrees every year to Stringed Instruments majors....view more Acceptance Rate 9% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score -- Est. Net Price * $42,468 Median Starting Salary $56,138
#2 #2 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. California Institute of the Arts Valencia, CA At California Institute of the Arts, the most popular majors students pursue are Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects, Acting, Fine/Studio Arts, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 26% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score -- Est. Net Price * $57,288 Median Starting Salary $55,032
#3 #3 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Stanford University Stanford, CA Stanford offers students seven schools under the university, which include Business, Earth Sciences, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Science, Law, and Medicine. Undergraduates must complete at least 180 units. This will include their major courses, writing and rhetoric, a year of foreign language, and more....view more Acceptance Rate 4% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,510–1,570 Est. Net Price * $17,998 Median Starting Salary $44,809
#4 #4 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. University of Rochester Rochester, NY At the University of Rochester, the three most popular college majors students study are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 36% Annual Degrees Awarded 11 SAT Score 1,400–1,530 Est. Net Price * $40,900 Median Starting Salary $49,177
#5 #5 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI At the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Computer and Information Sciences, General, Business Administration and Management, General, Economics, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 18% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,370–1,530 Est. Net Price * $19,005 Median Starting Salary $49,486
#6 #6 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Columbia University is separated into 20 different schools which include the College, global research outposts, Juilliard School, Barnard College, and more. Each new student will meet with an adviser to go over their plan and schedule for the upcoming year....view more Acceptance Rate 4% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,500–1,560 Est. Net Price * $20,869 Median Starting Salary $42,187
#7 #7 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. University of Miami Coral Gables, FL At the University of Miami, the most popular majors students pursue are Finance, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Psychology, and General. In fact, the University of Miami grants 232 degrees every year to graduating Finance, General students....view more Acceptance Rate 19% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,350–1,470 Est. Net Price * $41,028 Median Starting Salary $48,915
#8 #8 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Annually, Johns Hopkins University grants about 168 degrees to those majoring in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Public Health, General, Neuroscience, Computer and Information Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 8% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,530–1,570 Est. Net Price * $22,844 Median Starting Salary $50,204
#9 #9 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Every year, Michigan State University awards around 534 degrees to those majoring in Advertising, the school’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Psychology, General, Finance, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 84% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,170–1,360 Est. Net Price * $24,630 Median Starting Salary $53,291
#10 #10 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA At the University of Southern California, the most popular majors students study are Business Administration and Management, General, Speech Communication and Rhetoric, and Computer Science....view more Acceptance Rate 10% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,440–1,550 Est. Net Price * $41,496 Median Starting Salary $45,934
*The estimated net prices above are College Raptor’s estimate. Please contact the college financial aid office for actual net cost figures.

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Institution	Scaled Score	Acceptance Rate	Annual Degrees Awarded	SAT Score	Est. Net Price *	Median Starting Salary
The Juilliard School New York, NY At The Juilliard School, the three most popular college majors students...view more	100	9%	2	--	$42,468	$56,138
California Institute of the Arts Valencia, CA At California Institute of the Arts, the most popular majors students pursue...view more	85	26%	2	--	$57,288	$55,032
Stanford University Stanford, CA Stanford offers students seven schools under the university, which include Business, Earth Sciences,...view more	85	4%	3	1,510 - 1,570	$17,998	$44,809
University of Rochester Rochester, NY At the University of Rochester, the three most popular college majors...view more	83	36%	11	1,400 - 1,530	$40,900	$49,177
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI At the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, the three most popular college...view more	81	18%	6	1,370 - 1,530	$19,005	$49,486
Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Columbia University is separated into 20 different schools which include the College, global research...view more	77	4%	2	1,500 - 1,560	$20,869	$42,187
University of Miami Coral Gables, FL At the University of Miami, the most popular majors students pursue are...view more	76	19%	3	1,350 - 1,470	$41,028	$48,915
Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Annually, Johns Hopkins University grants about 168 degrees to those majoring...view more	75	8%	2	1,530 - 1,570	$22,844	$50,204
Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Every year, Michigan State University awards around 534 degrees to those...view more	73	84%	4	1,170 - 1,360	$24,630	$53,291
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA At the University of Southern California, the most popular majors students...view more	73	10%	2	1,440 - 1,550	$41,496	$45,934

*The estimated net prices above are College Raptor’s estimate. Please contact the college financial aid office for actual net cost figures.

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About Music Theory and Composition

A program that focuses on the study of the principles of sound manipulation as applied to the creation of music, and the techniques of creating and arranging music. Includes instruction in aural theory, melody, counterpoint, complex harmony, modulation, chromatics, improvisation, progressions, musical writing, instrumentation, orchestration, electronic and computer applications, studies of specific musical styles, and development of original creative ability.

Students who are passionate about Music Theory and Composition can study up to a Doctors degree professional practice. Currently, 1,132 students are granted some level of degree in Music Theory and Composition around the US each year. More students earn a degree in Music Theory and Composition in the state of New York compared to any other state. The average starting salary for an undergraduate degree in Music Theory and Composition is $38,300.

Popularity of Music Theory and Composition Degrees in the U.S.

This heat map represents the states that have the highest percent of Music Theory and Composition degrees compared to all other degrees awarded in that state.

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Careers

The highest paying job for Music Theory and Composition majors is Art, Drama Music Teachers, Postsecondary. However, something else to think about is how many job openings there currently is. A career that is in high need that a degree in Music Theory and Composition can prepare you for is Art, Drama Music Teachers, Postsecondary.

Top Paying Careers

These are the highest paying careers for Music Theory and Composition majors.

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Career	Median Salary	Average Annual Job Openings	Employment 2022	Employment 2032	% Change
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary	$80,360	4,814	58,480	60,321	3%
Music Directors and Composers	$62,590	311	3,159	3,196	1%

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Most In-Demand Careers

These are the careers in highest demand for Music Theory and Composition majors.

Student Demographics

Total Students

Female Students

17 (30%)

Male Students

38 (69%)

White (33, 60%)

U.S. Nonresident (13, 24%)

Hispanic or Latino (4, 7%)

Race/ethnicity unknown (3, 5%)

Two or more races (2, 4%)

Asian (0, <1%)

American Indian or Alaska Native (0, <1%)

Black or African American (0, <1%)

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (0, <1%)

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Music Theory and Composition

#1 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S.

9%

2

--

$42,468

$56,138

#2 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S.

26%

2

--

$57,288

$55,032

#3 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S.

4%

3

1,510–1,570

$17,998

$44,809

#4 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S.

36%

11

1,400–1,530

$40,900

$49,177

#5 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S.

18%

6

1,370–1,530

$19,005

$49,486

#6 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S.

4%

2

1,500–1,560

$20,869

$42,187

#7 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S.

19%

3

1,350–1,470

$41,028

$48,915

#8 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S.

8%

2

1,530–1,570

$22,844

$50,204

#9 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S.

84%

4

1,170–1,360

$24,630

$53,291

#10 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S.

10%

2

1,440–1,550

$41,496

$45,934

About Music Theory and Composition

Careers

Top Paying Careers

Most In-Demand Careers

Student Demographics

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