by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Drama & Dance Education explores Drama And Dance Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Drama And/or Dance Programs At Various Educational Levels. Read on to learn the essential details every drama & dance education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering drama & dance education programs.
In the U.S., drama & dance education is a popular field of study, with 283 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Drama & Dance Education Schools ranking analyzes these 44 schools to determine the best overall colleges for drama & dance education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of drama & dance education programs later in this article.
Studies in Drama & Dance Education develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations drama & dance education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a drama & dance education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a drama & dance education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several drama & dance education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 159 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 120 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to drama & dance education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 43.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.7% |
| Master’s degree | 18.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.0% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in drama & dance education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in drama & dance education opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to drama & dance education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to drama & dance education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of drama & dance education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,919 |
| 4 years | $50,204 |
| 5 years | $56,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for drama & dance education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers drama & dance education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 44 different drama & dance education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased drama & dance education school rankings to help you.
Students interested in drama & dance education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 6,964 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 5,986 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,544 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 3,018 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,352 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 1,963 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,860 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,472 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
