by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 4 U.S. colleges awarded 42 degrees and certificates in Ballet. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 86% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Ballet Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $23,231 one year after completing, rising to $42,175 after four years.
A major in Ballet explores Ballet. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Express Ideals And Feelings Through Interpretation Of Classical Dance Choreography. Includes Instruction In Ballet Exercise, Solo And Ensemble Dance, History Of Ballet, Ballet Choreography, Laban Notation, Ballet Technique, And Interpretations Of Specific Styles And Schools.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., ballet is a widely-pursued major, with 42 degrees awarded annually. 4 colleges award ballet degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 24.
By level, the 42 awards include 36 bachelor’s degrees and 6 master’s degrees.
Women earned 88% of ballet degrees and certificates in the latest year (37 of 42). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (31) and multiracial (4), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Ballet Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks ballet schools within 1 state. In all, 4 colleges offer ballet programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Ballet Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common ballet credential is the bachelor’s degree: 36 of the 42 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to ballet call most for Speaking, Instructing and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, Education and Training and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a ballet degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 36 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to ballet, at 33.3%.
| 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% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Ballet, with an average median salary of $76,848; the strongest outlook belongs to Choreographers, at 14.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Dance Instructor, Theater Professor, Drama Teacher and Ceramics Teacher.
The occupation related to ballet with the most projected jobs is Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,074,154.
| 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% |
Ballet graduates earn a median $23,231 one year after completing their program, $42,175 after four years and $34,620 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $23,231 |
| 4 years | $42,175 |
| 5 years | $34,620 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to ballet, with a median salary of $109,380.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Choreographers | $109,380 |
| Dancers | $74,180 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Ballet has 2 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 3,275 degrees a year; the largest are Dance, General (3,109) and Dance, Other (166). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Dance, General | 3,109 |
| Dance, Other | 166 |
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