2026 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southeast Region
[Music Theory & Composition](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 35 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value music theory & composition schools.
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2026 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music theory & composition, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools
For return on investment in music theory & composition, no school beat Florida State University this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $23,992 in student loans. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $26,311. Set against $23,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music theory & composition, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $26,000. Music Theory & Composition graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $24,315 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Georgia one of the best values for music theory & composition. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $22,344. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $24,514. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at West Virginia University earned it the #4 place for music theory & composition. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $26,011. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Columbus State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in music theory & composition, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,898 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,610 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Columbus State University generally make around $51,154. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbus State University admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Kentucky ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Set in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $49,568. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Vanderbilt University landed the #7 spot for music theory & composition value this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
The University Of Alabama landed the #8 spot for music theory & composition value this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,180, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $25,675. Music Theory & Composition graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,675 median debt. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Lee University placed #9 among the best values for music theory & composition. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,790. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $28,000. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $38,249. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
Stetson University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Set in the city of DeLand, Stetson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,410. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $26,548 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $15,905. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stetson University admits about 72% of applicants.
Bob Jones University came in at #11 for value in music theory & composition this year. Set in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,892. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $20,497 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $40,538. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Loyola University New Orleans ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,440. Students borrow a median of $26,899 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Loyola University New Orleans generally make around $48,040. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #13 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,688, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $38,397. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Lipscomb University came in at #14 for value in music theory & composition this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $48,949. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
Liberty University earned the #15 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $27,000. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $33,956 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Shenandoah University placed #16 among the best values for music theory & composition. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,950. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Shenandoah University earn a median of $62,948 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Shenandoah University admits about 77% of applicants.
Samford University earned the #17 position for value in music theory & composition this year. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,150. Students borrow a median of $21,039 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $64,132. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Belmont University came in at #18 for value in music theory & composition this year. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,988 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $27,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami placed #19 among the best values for music theory & composition. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $13,998 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $23,991. Set against $13,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Lynn University placed #20 among the best values for music theory & composition. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Lynn University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,391 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Lynn University generally make around $50,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
