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Master's Degree in Music Theory & Composition

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Master’s Degrees in Music Theory & Composition

279 Yearly Graduations
30% Women
21% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*
There are 75 schools in the United States where you can get your master's degree in music composition. This degree is more popular with male students, and about 21% of recent graduates were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Also, 21.9% of music composition graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Music Composition Majors

During the most recent year for which data is available, 279 people earned their master's degree in music composition. This earns it the #311 spot on the list of the most popular master's degree programs in the nation.

The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in music composition at each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree 718
Master’s Degree 279
Associate Degree 98
Doctor’s Degree 62
Graduate Certificate 17
Undergraduate Certificate 11
Basic Certificate 9

Earnings of Music Composition Majors With Master’s Degrees

We are unable to calculate the median earnings for music composition majors with their master's degree due to lack of data.

Student Debt

The data on debt ranges for music composition majors who have their master's degree is not available.

Student Diversity

More men than women pursue master's degrees in music composition. About 70.3% of graduates in this field are male.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 196
Women 83
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The racial-ethnic distribution of music composition master’s degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 16
Black or African American 15
Hispanic or Latino 21
White 153
International Students 61
Other Races/Ethnicities 13
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There are 75 colleges that offer a master’s degree in music composition. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

New York University

New York, New York
40 Yearly Graduations
35% Women
35% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

New York University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree. Each year, around 52,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $55,384 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $37,332 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 40 people received their master's degree in music composition from NYU. Of these students, 35% were women and 35% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#2

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York
22 Yearly Graduations
22% Women
15% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Brooklyn College is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in music composition. Each year, around 17,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,090 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 22 people received their master's degree in music composition from Brooklyn College. Of these students, 22% were women and 15% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#3

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, California
21 Yearly Graduations
22% Women
56% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

California Institute of the Arts comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in music composition. Each year, around 1,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,440 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $54,440 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 21 people received their master's degree in music composition from CalArts. About 22% of this group were women, and 56% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#4

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
19 Yearly Graduations
58% Women
8% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Academy of Art University comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in music composition. Roughly 8,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $25,728 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $29,232 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 19 people received their master's degree in music composition from Academy of Art University. Of these students, 58% were women and 8% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#5

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
15 Yearly Graduations
27% Women
20% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 5th most popular school in the country for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree is Johns Hopkins University. Each year, around 28,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,480 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $60,480 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 15 people received their master's degree in music composition from Johns Hopkins. About 27% of this group were women, and 20% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#6

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
14 Yearly Graduations
33% Women
33% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 6th most popular school in the country for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree is Michigan State University. Each year, around 49,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,437 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $20,202 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 14 people received their master's degree in music composition from Michigan State. Around 33% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 33% were women.

#7

The New School

New York, New York
12 Yearly Graduations
50% Women
13% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 7th most popular school in the country for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree is The New School. Roughly 9,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $53,105 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $49,966 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 12 people received their master's degree in music composition from New School University. Of these students, 50% were women and 13% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#8

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
11 Yearly Graduations
67% Women

University of Missouri - Kansas City comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in music composition. Roughly 16,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,999 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,660 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 11 people received their master's degree in music composition from UMKC.

#8

The New England Conservatory of Music

Boston, Massachusetts
11 Yearly Graduations
44% Women
22% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The New England Conservatory of Music comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in music composition. Roughly 700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,210 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $54,210 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 11 people received their master's degree in music composition from The New England Conservatory of Music. Around 22% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 44% were women.

9 Yearly Graduations
13% Women

The 10th most popular school in the country for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree is Bowling Green State University - Main Campus. Each year, around 18,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,272 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,418 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 9 people received their master's degree in music composition from BGSU.

#11

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
8 Yearly Graduations
50% Women
50% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 11th most popular school in the country for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Southern California. Each year, around 46,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $63,468 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $63,468 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 8 people received their master's degree in music composition from USC. Around 50% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 50% were women.

7 Yearly Graduations
25% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 12th most popular school in the country for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Cincinnati - Main Campus. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,656 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,224 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 7 people received their master's degree in music composition from UC.

#12

Longy School of Music of Bard College

Cambridge, Massachusetts
7 Yearly Graduations

The 12th most popular school in the country for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree is Longy School of Music of Bard College. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $49,500 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $49,500 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 7 people received their master's degree in music composition from Longy.

#12

Vermont College of Fine Arts

Montpelier, Vermont
7 Yearly Graduations
13% Women
27% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 12th most popular school in the country for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree is Vermont College of Fine Arts. Each year, around 300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the most recent year for which we have data, 7 people received their master's degree in music composition from VCFA. About 13% of this group were women, and 27% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#15

Berklee College of Music

Boston, Massachusetts
6 Yearly Graduations

Berklee College of Music comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in music composition. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $46,950 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $46,745 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 6 people received their master's degree in music composition from Berklee College of Music.

#16

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
5 Yearly Graduations
25% Women
50% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 16th most popular school in the country for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Each year, around 47,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $17,454 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $25,894 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 5 people received their master's degree in music composition from U-M. About 25% of this group were women, and 50% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

5 Yearly Graduations

Ohio University - Athens Campus is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in music composition. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,352 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,444 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 5 people received their master's degree in music composition from OHIO Athens.

#16

The Juilliard School

New York, New York
5 Yearly Graduations
29% Women

The 16th most popular school in the country for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree is The Juilliard School. Roughly 900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $52,250 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $52,250 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 5 people received their master's degree in music composition from Juilliard.

#19

Butler University

Indianapolis, Indiana
4 Yearly Graduations
33% Women

Butler University is the 19th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in music composition. Each year, around 5,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $43,470 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,750 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 4 people received their master's degree in music composition from Butler.

#19

Manhattan School of Music

New York, New York
4 Yearly Graduations
50% Women

The 19th most popular school in the country for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree is Manhattan School of Music. Roughly 900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $51,500 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $51,500 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 4 people received their master's degree in music composition from Manhattan School of Music.

Below are some popular majors that are similar to music composition that offer master’s degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
1,908
1,619
280
269
214

References

*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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