Master’s Degrees in Music Theory & Composition
Education Levels of Music Composition Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 344 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 | 707 |
| Master’s Degree | 344 |
| Associate Degree | 89 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 66 |
| Basic Certificate | 14 |
| Graduate Certificate | 10 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 6 |
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 59.0% of graduates in this field are male.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 203 |
| Women | 141 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of music composition master’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 14 |
| Black or African American | 13 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 31 |
| White | 166 |
| International Students | 103 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 17 |
Most Popular Music Composition Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 75 colleges that offer a master’s degree in music composition. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
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 $60,438 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $38,826 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 40 people received their master's degree in music composition from NYU. Around 19% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 56% were women.
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, 47% were women and 27% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
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 $56,074 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $41,140 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 21 people received their master's degree in music composition from CalArts. Of these students, 43% were women and 29% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
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 $27,024 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $30,696 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. Around 23% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 62% were women.
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 $62,840 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $62,840 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. Around 15% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 31% were women.
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 $16,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $20,808 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.
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 $54,995 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $51,702 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 14% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
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 $11,190 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,712 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 11 people received their master's degree in music composition from UMKC.
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 $56,780 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $56,780 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. Of these students, 27% were women and 9% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
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 $11,010 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. About 38% of this group were women, and 25% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 11th most popular school in the country for music composition majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Southern California. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $66,640 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $66,640 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 8 people received their master's degree in music composition from USC.
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. Roughly 40,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,228 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. Of these students, 50% were women and 25% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
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. Each year, around 200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $51,725 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $51,750 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 7 people received their master's degree in music composition from Longy. Around 18% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 36% were women.
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 25% of this group were women, and 10% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Berklee College of Music comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in music composition. Roughly 6,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $48,830 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $48,277 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. Around 38% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 58% were women.
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 $17,977 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $27,192 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. Around 25% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 75% were women.
Ohio University - Athens Campus is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in music composition. Each year, around 25,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,746 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. Of these students, 50% were women and 25% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
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 $53,300 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,300 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 5 people received their master's degree in music composition from Juilliard. Of these students, 43% were women and 29% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Butler University is the 19th 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 $44,990 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,225 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 4 people received their master's degree in music composition from Butler.
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 $53,500 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,500 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. Around 26% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 37% were women.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to music composition that offer master’s degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Music Performance | 2,231 |
| General Music | 1,644 |
| Voice Performance | 356 |
| Stringed Instruments | 322 |
| Keyboard Instruments | 261 |
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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