by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study music theory and composition, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 99 colleges ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing music theory and composition, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Check out our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Here are the top-ranked music theory and composition colleges for veterans:
Leading the list is Ohio State University-Main Campus, our #1 music theory and composition college for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 89.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about music theory and composition at Ohio State University-Main Campus
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best music theory and composition colleges for veterans. It scores 89.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about music theory and composition at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Georgia came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best music theory and composition colleges for veterans. It scores 89.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about music theory and composition at University of Georgia
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus is a great choice for veterans pursuing music theory and composition, landing the #4 spot this year. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about music theory and composition at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Western Michigan University is a great choice for veterans pursuing music theory and composition, landing the #5 spot this year. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
Read more about music theory and composition at Western Michigan University
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University of Washington-Seattle Campus landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing music theory and composition. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full music theory and composition report for University of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Kentucky came in at #7 for veteran music theory and composition students this year. University of Kentucky scores 84.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full music theory and composition report for University of Kentucky
Boise State University placed #8 among the best music theory and composition colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full music theory and composition report for Boise State University
University of California-Santa Barbara landed the #9 spot for veterans pursuing music theory and composition. It scores 84.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full music theory and composition report for University of California-Santa Barbara
Ohio University-Main Campus came in at #10 for veteran music theory and composition students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.1 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about music theory and composition at Ohio University-Main Campus
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Washington State University came in at #11 for veteran music theory and composition students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 84.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about music theory and composition at Washington State University
Portland State University came in at #12 for veteran music theory and composition students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 83.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about music theory and composition at Portland State University
Florida State University landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing music theory and composition. The school's overall veterans score is 82.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. Read more about music theory and composition at Florida State University
University of Northern Iowa landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing music theory and composition. University of Northern Iowa scores 82.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about music theory and composition at University of Northern Iowa
University of Minnesota-Duluth placed #15 among the best music theory and composition colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 81.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score.
Read more about music theory and composition at University of Minnesota-Duluth
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Belmont University placed #16 among the best music theory and composition colleges for veterans. It scores 80.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 65.6, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about music theory and composition at Belmont University
Ball State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best music theory and composition colleges for veterans. It scores 80.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the music theory and composition program at Ball State University
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus came in at #18 for veteran music theory and composition students this year. It scores 80.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the music theory and composition program at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Dallas College came in at #19 for veteran music theory and composition students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the music theory and composition program at Dallas College
University of Dayton placed #20 among the best music theory and composition colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 79.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 57.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
Read more about music theory and composition at University of Dayton
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University of California-Los Angeles came in at #21 for veteran music theory and composition students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 79.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about music theory and composition at University of California-Los Angeles
Central Michigan University came in at #22 for veteran music theory and composition students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 78.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full music theory and composition report for Central Michigan University
University of Maryland-Baltimore County landed the #23 spot for veterans pursuing music theory and composition. University of Maryland-Baltimore County scores 77.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about music theory and composition at University of Maryland-Baltimore County
University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best music theory and composition colleges for veterans. University of North Carolina at Greensboro scores 77.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the music theory and composition program at University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of Missouri-Kansas City placed #25 among the best music theory and composition colleges for veterans. University of Missouri-Kansas City scores 77.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full music theory and composition report for University of Missouri-Kansas City
Not far behind, these music theory and composition colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying music theory and composition: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
