<p>kmccrindle is right in that UMich has one of the stronger music departments in the country, one that competes with many of the major independent music conservatories. Its music department is definitely considered to be better than State.</p>
<p>Boston University has a strong College of Fine Arts that is well regarded for music, but will also be quite selective in its admission process of auditions.</p>
<p>Tufts offers a very selective joint degree program with the New England Conservatory of Music, which is also in Boston and a very well known music school, although I am not sure if you can gain admission there just as an undergraduate theory major.</p>