NEW 2026 Best Colleges Rankings!

NEW 2026 Hidden Gem Colleges!

Search for a different college major

Home
>
Browse All Majors
>
Visual And Performing Arts
>
Music
>
Music Theory and Composition

Music Theory and Composition

Select Type of Degree:

Select State:


#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 36 degrees every year to Stringed Instruments majors....view more Acceptance Rate 9% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $56,138
#2 #2 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. University of Hartford West Hartford, CT Annually, the University of Hartford awards around 61 degrees to students studying Psychology, General, the institution’s most popular major. Other often-pursued majors include Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, and Mechanical Engineering....view more Acceptance Rate 96% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,130–1,320 Median Starting Salary $54,385
#3 #3 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 Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, and Other....view more Acceptance Rate 40% Annual Degrees Awarded 8 SAT Score 1,420–1,530 Median Starting Salary $49,177
#4 #4 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 -- Median Starting Salary $55,032
#5 #5 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Annually, Johns Hopkins University grants about 175 degrees to those majoring in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Computer and Information Sciences, General, Public Health, General, and Neuroscience....view more Acceptance Rate 6% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,520–1,580 Median Starting Salary $50,204
#6 #6 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 Median Starting Salary $44,809
#7 #7 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 Management Science, Computer Science, and Speech Communication and Rhetoric. In fact, the University of Southern California awards 1221 degrees annually to Management Science majors....view more Acceptance Rate 10% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,440–1,550 Median Starting Salary $45,934
#8 #8 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 3 SAT Score 1,510–1,590 Median Starting Salary $42,187
#9 #9 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, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 38% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,440–1,550 Median Starting Salary $52,711
#10 #10 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, and Computer Science. In fact, Northwestern University grants 281 degrees annually to Econometrics and Quantitative Economics majors....view more Acceptance Rate 7% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,480–1,560 Median Starting Salary $47,767
#11 #11 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 16% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,370–1,530 Median Starting Salary $49,486
#12 #12 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 Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Finance, General, Psychology, and General. In fact, the University of Miami grants 213 degrees every year to graduating Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse students....view more Acceptance Rate 19% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,340–1,480 Median Starting Salary $48,915
#13 #13 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, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, and Health Policy Analysis. In fact, Brandeis University grants 104 degrees annually to Biology/Biological Sciences, General majors....view more Acceptance Rate 41% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,400–1,520 Median Starting Salary $51,753
#14 #14 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY Each year, the University at Buffalo awards around 693 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 74% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,220–1,390 Median Starting Salary $48,368
#15 #15 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX At Texas Christian University, the three most popular college majors students study are Finance, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Public Relations, Advertising, and and Applied Communication....view more Acceptance Rate 44% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,190–1,380 Median Starting Salary $53,217
#16 #16 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Florida State University Tallahassee, FL At Florida State University, the three most popular college majors students study are Psychology, General, Finance, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, and General. In fact, Florida State University grants 767 degrees annually to Psychology, General majors....view more Acceptance Rate 24% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,300–1,420 Median Starting Salary $48,173
#17 #17 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Every year, Michigan State University awards around 497 degrees to those majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences, General, the school’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Psychology, General, Advertising, Computer and Information Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 85% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,120–1,330 Median Starting Salary $53,291
#18 #18 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 653 degrees annually to Computer Science majors....view more Acceptance Rate 66% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,180–1,390 Median Starting Salary $47,690
#19 #19 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. University of Oregon Eugene, OR Every year, the University of Oregon grants about 567 degrees to those majoring in Business/Commerce, General, which is the school’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, Advertising, Social Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 88% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,140–1,370 Median Starting Salary $50,369
#20 #20 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 72% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,060–1,330 Median Starting Salary $48,420
#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 483 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 85% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,180–1,350 Median Starting Salary $50,839
#22 #22 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NY At CUNY Graduate School and University Center, the most popular majors students study are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Health Services Administration, Business/Commerce, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 39% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $48,244
*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, 1,147 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.

Less Popular

More Popular

Careers

The highest paying career for Music Theory and Composition majors is Art, Drama Music Teachers, Postsecondary. But, something else to consider is how many job openings there currently is. A job 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.

#1 Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

Student Demographics

Total Students

Female Students

20 (31%)

Male Students

43 (68%)

Resources for:

Articles

Resources for:

Music Theory and Composition

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

9%

2

--

$56,138

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

96%

3

1,130–1,320

$54,385

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

40%

8

1,420–1,530

$49,177

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

26%

2

--

$55,032

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

6%

5

1,520–1,580

$50,204

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

4%

3

1,510–1,570

$44,809

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

10%

5

1,440–1,550

$45,934

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

4%

3

1,510–1,590

$42,187

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

38%

5

1,440–1,550

$52,711

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

7%

1

1,480–1,560

$47,767

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

16%

3

1,370–1,530

$49,486

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

19%

4

1,340–1,480

$48,915

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

41%

1

1,400–1,520

$51,753

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

74%

4

1,220–1,390

$48,368

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

44%

1

1,190–1,380

$53,217

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

24%

2

1,300–1,420