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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, Keyboard Instruments, Dance, and General. In fact, The Juilliard School awards 39 degrees every year to Stringed Instruments majors....view more Acceptance Rate 9% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $56,138
#2 #2 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. The New England Conservatory of Music Boston, MA At The New England Conservatory of Music, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Stringed Instruments, Woodwind Instruments, and Brass Instruments. In fact, The New England Conservatory of Music grants 29 degrees per year to graduating Stringed Instruments students....view more Acceptance Rate 41% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 830–830 Median Starting Salary $60,545
#3 #3 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. University of Hartford West Hartford, CT Annually, the University of Hartford awards around 57 degrees to students studying Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 96% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,130–1,320 Median Starting Salary $54,385
#4 #4 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 6 SAT Score 1,510–1,570 Median Starting Salary $42,187
#5 #5 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 32% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score -- Median Starting Salary $55,032
#6 #6 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 760 degrees annually to Psychology, General majors....view more Acceptance Rate 24% Annual Degrees Awarded 8 SAT Score 1,300–1,420 Median Starting Salary $48,173
#7 #7 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 1 SAT Score 1,510–1,570 Median Starting Salary $44,809
#8 #8 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Annually, Johns Hopkins University grants about 181 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, Neuroscience, Public Health, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 6% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,520–1,580 Median Starting Salary $50,204
#9 #9 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Rice University Houston, TX Each year, Rice University grants about 163 degrees to those studying Computer and Information Sciences, General, the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 8% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,510–1,570 Median Starting Salary $48,131
#10 #10 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, Economics, General, Business Administration and Management, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 16% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,370–1,530 Median Starting Salary $49,486
#11 #11 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, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse....view more Acceptance Rate 40% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,410–1,530 Median Starting Salary $49,177
#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 233 degrees every year to graduating Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse students....view more Acceptance Rate 19% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,340–1,480 Median Starting Salary $48,915
#13 #13 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Boston University Boston, MA At Boston University, the most popular majors students pursue are Business Administration and Management, General, Computer Science, Psychology, and General. In fact, Boston University grants 713 degrees per year to graduating Business Administration and Management, General students....view more Acceptance Rate 11% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,430–1,530 Median Starting Salary $52,307
#14 #14 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 Human Biology. In fact, the University of Southern California awards 1346 degrees annually to Management Science majors....view more Acceptance Rate 10% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,450–1,550 Median Starting Salary $45,934
#15 #15 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 74 degrees annually to Biology/Biological Sciences, General majors....view more Acceptance Rate 40% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,400–1,520 Median Starting Salary $51,753
#16 #16 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 Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Computer Science, and Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering....view more Acceptance Rate 37% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,430–1,530 Median Starting Salary $52,711
#17 #17 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 515 degrees to those studying Computer Science, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, Informatics, and Speech Communication and Rhetoric....view more Acceptance Rate 39% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,230–1,460 Median Starting Salary $46,430
#18 #18 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Every year, Michigan State University awards around 580 degrees to those majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences, General, the school’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Psychology, General, Advertising, Finance, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 85% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,190–1,370 Median Starting Salary $53,291
#19 #19 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC Every year, the University of South Carolina-Columbia grants around 402 degrees to students studying Public Health, General, which is the school’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Finance, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and Experimental Psychology....view more Acceptance Rate 60% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,200–1,390 Median Starting Salary $53,279
#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 601 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, Social Sciences, General, and Advertising....view more Acceptance Rate 88% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,140–1,370 Median Starting Salary $50,369
#21 #21 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
#22 #22 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, Psychology, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 72% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,060–1,330 Median Starting Salary $48,420
#23 #23 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 455 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 3 SAT Score 1,180–1,350 Median Starting Salary $50,839
#24 #24 Best College for Music Theory and Composition in the U.S. Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH At Kent State University at Kent, the three most popular college majors students study are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Psychology, General, Business Administration and Management, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 86% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 990–1,220 Median Starting Salary $52,095
*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 research scholarship. Currently, 1,239 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 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

21 (28%)

Male Students

53 (71%)

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Music Theory and Composition

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

9%

4

--

$56,138

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

41%

3

830–830

$60,545

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

96%

3

1,130–1,320

$54,385

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

4%

6

1,510–1,570

$42,187

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

32%

3

--

$55,032

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

24%

8

1,300–1,420

$48,173

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

4%

1

1,510–1,570

$44,809

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

6%

4

1,520–1,580

$50,204

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

8%

3

1,510–1,570

$48,131

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

16%

5

1,370–1,530

$49,486

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

40%

5

1,410–1,530

$49,177

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

19%

5

1,340–1,480

$48,915

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

11%

3

1,430–1,530

$52,307

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

10%

1

1,450–1,550

$45,934

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

40%

2

1,400–1,520

$51,753

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

37%

2

1,430–1,530