2026 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools in Minnesota
[Music Theory & Composition](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for music theory & composition students.
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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.
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2026 Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools in Minnesota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the music theory & composition degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Music Theory & Composition Schools
University Of Minnesota Duluth tops our 2026 list of the best value music theory & composition schools in Minnesota. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,608, compared with $20,134 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for music theory & composition graduates is $24,427. Music Theory & Composition graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $31,780 early in their careers. Set against $24,427 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
St Olaf College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value music theory & composition schools. St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,760. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the music theory & composition program here. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $24,732. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in music theory & composition will find it at Concordia College At Moorhead, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Concordia College At Moorhead is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,170. Music Theory & Composition graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career music theory & composition graduates make about $44,611. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concordia College At Moorhead admits about 63% of applicants.
More Music Theory & Composition Rankings
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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 · 5 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.
