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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Dance Schools in New Jersey

4 Colleges in the United States
103 Dance Degrees Awarded
$38,298 Avg Early-Career Salary

Dance programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their dance programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for dance students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Dance in New Jersey

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall dance education in New Jersey.

Top Schools in Dance

1

Rutgers University New Brunswick tops our 2026 ranking of the best dance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. About 84% of students finish within six years. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 34 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $58,402 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,879 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in dance from Rutgers University New Brunswick

2
Rider University crest
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ

Rider University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in dance, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 15 dance degrees were awarded at Rider University in the most recent year. Students who receive their dance degree from Rider University earn around $24,515 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,241 to complete this degree. Read more about the dance program at Rider University

3

Students looking for a strong dance program will find one at Montclair State University, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Montclair. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Montclair State University awarded about 41 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $23,191 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in dance from Montclair State University

4

A rank of #4 makes New Jersey City University one of the top schools for dance. New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jersey City. About 34% of students finish within six years. New Jersey City University awarded about 13 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of New Jersey City University earn a median of $47,083 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,107 to complete this degree. Get the full dance details for New Jersey City University

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 7 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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