Background <p>This study aims to evaluate the critical effect factors on musical creativity systematically. Uncovering the determinants of musical creativity is significant to promoting music education and creative development.</p> Methods <p>This study used structural equation modeling analysis to construct a conceptual framework containing ten explanatory variables based on the Componential Theory of Creativity. The data of 964 university students were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling for empirical testing.</p> Results <p>The empirical findings show that creative thinking and combinatorial thinking have the most significant impact on musical creativity; combinatorial thinking and musical improvisation ability play a key mediating role between expertise and musical creativity; Musical aesthetic ability and music use motivations, as external constructs, have a significant impact on intrinsic motivation and expertise.</p> Conclusions <p>This study reveals the combined influence of multiple cognitive and motivational factors on musical creativity, enriches the theoretical framework of musical creativity, and provides new perspectives and methods for music education practice, aiming to help educators cultivate students’ musical creativity more comprehensively and promote the innovative development of higher education.</p>