by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in General Dance involves the study of Dance, General. A General Program That Prepares Individuals To Express Ideas, Feelings, And/or Inner Visions Through The Performance Of One Or More Of The Dance Disciplines, Including But Not Limited To Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Ethnic, And Folk Dance, And That Focuses On The Study And Analysis Of Dance As A Cultural Phenomenon. Includes Instruction In Technique, Choreography, Laban Notation, Dance History And Criticism, And Dance Production. Examples: [Dance Movement Studies]. Continue reading for the essential details every general dance student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general dance programs.
In the U.S., general dance is a popular field of study, with 3,076 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Dance Schools ranking analyzes these 303 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general dance students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general dance programs later in this article.
Programs in General Dance emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general dance graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a general dance program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a general dance major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general dance 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 56 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 178 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,561 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 268 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to general dance tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 33.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 20.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 13.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 7.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.9% |
| Some college courses | 2.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general dance careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying general dance can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general dance.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general dance.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Choreographers | 365,704 | 14.8% |
| Dancers | 244,405 | 0.9% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of general dance graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $23,231 |
| 4 years | $30,807 |
| 5 years | $34,462 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general dance graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general dance grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Choreographers | $109,380 |
| Dancers | $74,180 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 303 different general dance programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general dance school rankings to help you.
Students interested in general dance, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Dance, Other | 153 |
| Ballet | 45 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
