Tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, personal expenses. At first, these combined costs may seem overwhelming. They don’t have to be. With some planning and the willingness to investigate different schools, scholarships, grants, and bursaries, the cost of attending college or university can be more manageable than you might think. As a starting point for your research, here are the typical tuition costs for a music theory and composition degree.

average yearly tuition as per the most recent US census data
$ 9,643 per year
Average in-state tuition in 2017

15% above average compared to other degrees

$ 23,328 per year
Average out-of-state tuition in 2017

16% above average compared to other degrees

$ 30,454 per year
Average private tuition in 2017

6% below average compared to other degrees

What do music theory and composition graduates earn?

Music theory and composition students make an average of $55,010 per year after graduation. This is 18% below average compared to other undergraduate degrees.

36% of music theory and composition graduates are underpaid (those who make less than $40,000 per year.) This rate is high compared to other degrees across the country.

$ 55,010 per year
Average graduate salary in 2017

Bottom 16% of degrees

36%
% of people underpaid in 2019

75% above average compared to other degrees

Career Paths

Learn about your career prospects after graduation.

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