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

#11

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

University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY

Each year, the University at Buffalo awards around 776 degrees to those studying Business Administration and Management, General, the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Psychology, General, Speech Communication and Rhetoric, and Computer Science....view more

Acceptance Rate

70%

Annual Degrees Awarded

4

SAT Score

1,220–1,390

Est. Net Price *

$20,511

Median Starting Salary

$48,368

#12

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

Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH

At Case Western Reserve University, the three most popular college majors students study are Computer Science, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse....view more

Acceptance Rate

29%

Annual Degrees Awarded

2

SAT Score

1,430–1,540

Est. Net Price *

$41,351

Median Starting Salary

$52,711

#13

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

University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO

At the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the three most popular college majors students study are Business/Commerce, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies....view more

Acceptance Rate

75%

Annual Degrees Awarded

3

SAT Score

1,090–1,350

Est. Net Price *

$14,201

Median Starting Salary

$48,420

#14

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

Northwestern University
Evanston, IL

At Northwestern University, the most popular majors students study are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General....view more

Acceptance Rate

7%

Annual Degrees Awarded

1

SAT Score

1,480–1,560

Est. Net Price *

$23,341

Median Starting Salary

$47,767

#15

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

Rice University
Houston, TX

Each year, Rice University grants about 118 degrees to those studying Computer and Information Sciences, General, the school’s most popular major. Other often-pursued majors include Psychology, General, Mechanical Engineering, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General....view more

Acceptance Rate

8%

Annual Degrees Awarded

1

SAT Score

1,500–1,580

Est. Net Price *

$20,587

Median Starting Salary

$48,131

#16

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

University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA

At the University of California-Santa Cruz, the most popular majors students pursue are Computer Science, Psychology, General, and Business/Managerial Economics. In fact, the University of California-Santa Cruz awards 598 degrees annually to Computer Science majors....view more

Acceptance Rate

63%

Annual Degrees Awarded

2

SAT Score

1,180–1,390

Est. Net Price *

$16,526

Median Starting Salary

$47,690

#17

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

Brandeis University
Waltham, MA

At Brandeis University, the three most popular college majors students study are Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Health Policy Analysis, and Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. In fact, Brandeis University grants 98 degrees annually to Biology/Biological Sciences, General majors....view more

Acceptance Rate

36%

Annual Degrees Awarded

1

SAT Score

1,400–1,530

Est. Net Price *

$44,668

Median Starting Salary

$51,753

#18

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

University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA

Annually, the University of Washington-Seattle Campus grants around 481 degrees to those studying Computer Science, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, Speech Communication and Rhetoric, and Biochemistry....view more

Acceptance Rate

43%

Annual Degrees Awarded

1

SAT Score

1,230–1,460

Est. Net Price *

$11,023

Median Starting Salary

$46,430

#19

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

University of Hartford
West Hartford, CT

Annually, the University of Hartford awards around 45 degrees to students studying Business Administration and Management, General, the institution’s most popular major....view more

Acceptance Rate

83%

Annual Degrees Awarded

1

SAT Score

1,110–1,290

Est. Net Price *

$30,553

Median Starting Salary

$54,385

#20

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

University of Oregon
Eugene, OR

Every year, the University of Oregon grants about 529 degrees to those majoring in Business/Commerce, General, which is the school’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Psychology, General, Advertising, Social Sciences, and General....view more

Acceptance Rate

85%

Annual Degrees Awarded

1

SAT Score

1,130–1,370

Est. Net Price *

$23,917

Median Starting Salary

$50,369

#21

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

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH

Every year, the University of Cincinnati-Main Campus awards about 418 degrees to those majoring in Marketing/Marketing Management, General, the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Psychology, General, Finance, and General....view more

Acceptance Rate

88%

Annual Degrees Awarded

1

SAT Score

1,180–1,350

Est. Net Price *

$21,511

Median Starting Salary

$50,839

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

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, 465 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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More Popular

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.

Most In-Demand Careers

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

Student Demographics

Total Students
55
Female Students
17 (30%)
Male Students
38 (69%)

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