DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/music/music-theory-and-composition/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 1
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 50.09), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA in Music Business" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "MBA in Music Business" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 1
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 0 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No ESYOH offers, checking direct offers
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
Best Schools for Music Theory & Composition in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the music theory & composition degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Music Theory & Composition
Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Ann Arbor the best school in the country for a degree in music theory & composition. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 19 music theory & composition degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Students who receive their music theory & composition degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $29,641 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,397 in student loans.
See the full music theory & composition program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
A rank of #2 makes Michigan State University one of the top schools for music theory & composition. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. Michigan State University awarded about 16 music theory & composition degrees in the most recent data year. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $40,570 early in their careers. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music theory & composition from Michigan State University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Cincinnati Main Campus one of the top schools for music theory & composition. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 19 music theory & composition degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the music theory & composition program make about $22,533 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,946 in student loans.
See the full music theory & composition program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Students looking for a strong music theory & composition program will find one at Bowling Green State University Main Campus, which ranked #4. This large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 11 music theory & composition degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their music theory & composition degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $27,559 in the first couple years of their career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in music theory & composition from Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Stark State College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in music theory & composition, ranking #5. This large public university is located in the suburb of North Canton. Stark State College awarded about 20 music theory & composition degrees in the most recent data year. Music Theory & Composition graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,349.
Read more about the music theory & composition program at Stark State College
Narrow Music Theory & Composition Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 48 schools evaluated.
- 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.
ADBLOCK #116
