2026 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools in Tennessee
[Music Theory & Composition](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for music theory & composition students.
What’s on this page:
ADVERTISEMENTS
Featured Music Theory & Composition Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
MBA in Music Business
Earn the music business degree that fits into the business world – and partners Southern New Hampshire University with world-renowned Berklee College of Music.
Learn More
2026 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in music theory & composition, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools
Our analysis ranked Vanderbilt University the best value for a degree in music theory & composition in Tennessee. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, music theory & composition degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
A rank of #2 makes Lee University one of the best values for music theory & composition. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $23,790. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $38,249. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lipscomb University earned it the #3 place for music theory & composition. 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. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music theory & composition will find it at Belmont University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,540. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $25,988. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $27,517 early in their careers. Set against $25,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
More Music Theory & Composition Rankings
View All Music Theory & Composition Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
