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Composition instructor education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a composition instructor. Composition instructors usually study english, writing, or general education, specific areas. 59% of composition instructors hold a bachelor's degree, and 32% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 877 real composition instructor resumes to see exactly what composition instructor education sections show.
The most common colleges for composition instructors are the University of Toledo and the University of Toledo.
There are also many online composition instructor courses to help get the education required to be a composition instructor.
What education do you need to become a composition instructor?
What degree do you need to be a composition instructor?
- Bachelor's, 59%
- Master's, 32%
- Doctorate, 4%
- Associate, 4%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a composition instructor?
Most common colleges for composition instructors
| Composition instructor common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Toledo | 7.14% |
| University of South Florida | 6.25% |
| The University of Alabama | 6.25% |
| University of New Orleans | 5.36% |
| Missouri State University | 5.36% |
Best majors for composition instructors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 48.7% |
| 2 | Writing | 12.0% |
| 3 | General Education, Specific Areas | 7.1% |
| 4 | Education | 4.5% |
| 5 | Literature | 3.5% |
Best colleges for composition instructors
The best colleges for composition instructors are Columbia University in the City of New York, Stanford University, and Washington University in St Louis.
A composition instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for composition instructors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become composition instructors.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
3. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
6. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,625
Enrollment
17,407
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
In-state tuition
$53,399
Enrollment
7,356
8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,832
Enrollment
4,550
9. University of California - San Diego
La Jolla, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,167
Enrollment
30,279
10. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
20 best online courses for composition instructors
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1. Music Composition: Write Powerful Melodies
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2. Developing an Eye for Landscape Composition
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5. VFX Compositing with Nuke: The Complete 2D Edition
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6. Music Composition 1: Myths, Techniques, and Getting Started
Demystifying Music Composition Through Practical Exercises and Techniques for the Modern Composer and Songwriter...
7. Music Theory - Fundamentals for Composition in Any Genre
Expand your music composition skills through learning universal music theory principles, mindset, and ear training...
8. Introduction to Nuke VFX Compositing: The Essentials - NK101
A full Nuke visual effects training course for VFX Compositing in Nuke. Final project of a Junior Compositor shot!...
9. Composition in Photography from A to Z
Master the composition of your photos, learn how to see the composition around, learn how to analyze your photography...
10. Songwriting 101- Composition, Lyrics + Music Production
Learn the Essentials of Songwriting, Music Composition, Writing Lyrics and Music Production in Different Genres Today...
11. Music Composition 1
Learn how to compose well-written rhythms and melodies...
12. Nuke Compositing Masterclass: Keying - Part 1
Start your Professional Compositor Journey from here. Introducing Term 1 for Learning Art & Science of Nuke Compositing...
13. Affinity Photo: A Beginner's Guide to Photo Compositing
Create your own amazing photo composites with this complete Affinity Photo course!...
14. Orchestral Music Composition & Music Theory for Video Games
Learn orchestral video game music composition & game composer music theory secrets to compose music for any video game!...
15. Film, TV, & Video Game Music Composition + Production Basics
#1 Music Composition, Production, Technology, & Business Course...
16. Music Composition with the Piano: Ultimate Keyboard Theory
Music Composition - The Ultimate Guide to Piano, Chords & Music Theory for Producers, Film Composers & Songwriters...
17. TESOL - Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Teaching Skills and Classroom Management...
18. How to Draw and Color Backgrounds plus Composition
Draw and color amazing backgrounds for your comics, concept art, and more. Plus learn composition...
19. The 16-hour SPSS Pro: Analysis, Interpretation, and Write-Up
16 Hours of Instruction From a 13 Year Researcher and College Instructor...
20. Photography Composition & Portrait Photography Masterclass
Creative Photography Masterclass - Learn How To Compose Images & Observe Light - Studio / Portrait / Street Photography...
Top 10 most affordable universities for composition instructors
The most affordable schools for composition instructors are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for composition instructors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for composition instructors.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
6. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
9. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
10. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for composition instructors
The hardest universities for composition instructors to get into are Columbia University in the City of New York, Stanford University, and Washington University in St Louis.
Some great schools for composition instructors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for composition instructors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
5. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
6. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
7. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
8. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
10. Brown University
Providence, RI • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for composition instructors
The easiest schools for composition instructors to get into are Our Lady of the Lake University, notre dame de namur university, and la roche college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a composition instructor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for composition instructors.
1. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
4. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
5. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
6. Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,069
7. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
8. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
9. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
10. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
Average composition instructor salary by education level
| Composition instructor education level | Composition instructor salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $53,620 |
| Doctorate Degree | $66,060 |
Composition instructor education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025