First, check that the school is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. It will probably state this in the college's prospectus or website. When you go for a campus visit, inspect the amount of rehearsal space available and its acoustics. If you are primarily interested in composing electronic music, it makes sense to find a school that not only has staff with both interest and experience in the field, but also the right equipment for you to work on. You should also ask if the college provides opportunities for students to give performances of their own compositions, either solo or with other students. Finally, ask whether the college help students to find internships or provide summer schools.
Students seeking a learning environment devoted to music might consider applying to Berklee, Juilliard or the New England Conservatory, as these schools teach nothing but music. Berklee teaches traditional and contemporary composition, and has the advantage of having several active composers in its faculty. Juilliard puts more emphasis on performance, but students still receive a comprehensive training in composition and can take a degree it as a major. Students at the New England Conservatory take theory and composition as part of their music degree. The composition part of the coursework focuses on the technical and theoretical elements of writing music.
Most music composition is taught within the music departments of universities. The Ivy League colleges of Harvard, Yale and Princeton all have music departments rated by education sites as among the top 10 in the country, according to the US News and World Report on Best Colleges 2010. The Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester has a reputation for promoting students´ individual style of composition and giving them frequent opportunities to have their work performed. This might suit students who want a less traditional approach to music than they are likely to find at Harvard or Yale.
The top schools are private universities, which means a significant cost to students and their families. The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia offers full scholarships to all students that cover all the tuition fees. However, this means that entry is highly competitive. As of 2011, these undergraduate scholarships are worth $36,500 and for graduate scholarships $49,500. Consult the Music Scholarships website for information about all the various grants and financial aid available to U.S. music students.