by our College Data Analytics Team
[Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The schools below stand out for the salaries their dance graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 71 schools on the early-career earnings of their dance graduates.
What’s on this page:
Where you study dance affects what graduates go on to earn. To help, we created our Highest Paid Dance Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its dance graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Dance Graduates list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you want to know which schools send dance graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Suny College At Brockport tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools in the United States. Located in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a public institution. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,831.
Students chasing top earnings in dance will find them at Southern Methodist University, which ranked #2. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Dance graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of about $49,423 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Texas State University San Marcos one of the highest-paying schools for dance. Texas State University San Marcos is a public school located in the city of San Marcos. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,412.
Strong graduate earnings at California Institute Of The Arts earned it the #4 place for dance. Set in the suburb of Valencia, California Institute Of The Arts is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career dance graduates from California Institute Of The Arts make a median of around $45,119 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Muhlenberg College earned it the #5 place for dance. Muhlenberg College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Allentown. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,505.
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Texas Womans University came in at #6 for dance graduate earnings this year. Texas Womans University is a public school located in the city of Denton. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,951.
Temple University came in at #7 for dance graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,092.
Arizona State University landed the #8 spot for dance salaries this year. Arizona State University is a public school located in the city of Tempe. Dance graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of about $48,294 a year early in their careers.
University Of Iowa ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a public institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from University Of Iowa typically earn about $41,919 annually.
Stephen F Austin State University earned the #10 position for dance graduate earnings this year. Stephen F Austin State University is a public school located in the town of Nacogdoches. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Stephen F Austin State University typically earn about $33,340 annually.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #11 position for dance graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,291.
University Of Missouri Kansas City ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. Early-career dance graduates from University Of Missouri Kansas City make a median of around $33,241 per year.
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #13 position for dance graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick typically earn about $32,909 annually.
New York University landed the #14 spot for dance salaries this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,847.
Adelphi University landed the #15 spot for dance salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Adelphi University typically earn about $32,810 annually.
University Of North Texas placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for dance. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a public institution. Early-career dance graduates from University Of North Texas make a median of around $44,100 per year.
Oakland University came in at #17 for dance graduate earnings this year. Oakland University is a public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,999.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #18 spot for dance salaries this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,597.
University Of California Irvine landed the #19 spot for dance salaries this year. University Of California Irvine is a public school located in the city of Irvine. Early-career dance graduates from University Of California Irvine make a median of around $32,865 per year.
California State University Long Beach placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for dance. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $27,350.
Ball State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Ball State University is a public school located in the city of Muncie. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Ball State University typically earn about $28,838 annually.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #22 spot for dance salaries this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus typically earn about $40,010 annually.
Columbia College Chicago earned the #23 position for dance graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago typically earn about $28,579 annually.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for dance. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,568.
Wayne State University landed the #25 spot for dance salaries this year. Wayne State University is a public school located in the city of Detroit. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,720.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid dance ranking:
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This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their dance graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 71 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.