Dance degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 364 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for dance students pursuing a degree.
No school ranked higher than University Of California Santa Barbara this year for dance. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. About 21 dance degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. Dance graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $45,488 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,501.
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Students looking for a strong dance program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 22 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $25,653 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Austin is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in dance, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 dance students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $57,819 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275.
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Southern Methodist University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in dance, ranking #4. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dallas. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 dance students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $70,632 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best dance schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #6 position for dance this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 11 dance degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $31,597. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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University Of Georgia placed #7 among the best dance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland College Park ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best dance schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $57,901 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
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Chapman University earned the #9 position for dance this year. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 35 dance students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $21,275 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,624 to complete this degree.
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Arizona State University landed the #10 spot for dance this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. About 68% of students finish within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 20 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $27,310 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,393.
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University Of California Irvine placed #11 among the best dance schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Irvine awarded about 35 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $28,112 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,080.
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Florida State University came in at #12 for dance this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 dance students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $21,877 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,706 to complete this degree.
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University Of Utah came in at #13 for dance this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Salt Lake City. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 37 dance degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $24,125. Typical student debt for the program is $17,269.
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University Of California Los Angeles placed #14 among the best dance schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 16 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $19,787. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $19,309 in student loans.
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Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for dance this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 40 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $21,167 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Texas State University San Marcos ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best dance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Marcos. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 41 dance degrees were awarded at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Students who receive their dance degree from Texas State University San Marcos earn around $38,967 in the first couple years of their career. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
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University Of Arizona landed the #17 spot for dance this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Arizona awarded about 40 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $24,826 in their early career. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $20,616 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #18 among the best dance schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 11 dance degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Students borrow a median of $19,061 to complete this degree.
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Texas Christian University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best dance schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 13 dance students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $60,035 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,960.
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Loyola Marymount University landed the #20 spot for dance this year. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 11 dance degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Students who receive their dance degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $19,107 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Iowa ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best dance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from University Of Iowa earn around $30,353 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,375.
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California State University Fullerton placed #22 among the best dance schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 dance students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $24,087 in their early career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Towson University came in at #23 for dance this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 dance degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Graduates of the dance program make about $50,370 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of North Texas ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best dance schools. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 12 dance degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Dance graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $25,034 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
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Elon University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best dance schools. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. About 84% of students finish within six years. Elon University awarded about 17 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from Elon University earn around $50,463 in the first couple years of their career. Elon University graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Dance Schools
These schools also placed among the best for dance this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 364 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
