2027 Best Dance Bachelor’s Degree Schools
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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 92 schools to find the best for dance students.
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Best Schools for Dance in the United States
Below are the best dance schools at the bachelor’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Dance
Southern Methodist University tops our 2027 ranking of the best dance schools. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 dance degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their dance degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $70,632 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,712.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for dance. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 17 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $66,254 in their early career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus 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 Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 13 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $65,681 in their early career. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Southern California is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in dance, landing the #4 spot this year. 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%. University Of Southern California awarded about 15 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from University Of Southern California earn around $25,653 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete this degree.
See the full dance program report for University Of Southern California
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top schools for dance. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 dance degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their dance degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $57,819 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from The University Of Texas At Austin
Chapman University earned the #6 position for dance this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 33 dance degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $21,275. Typical student debt for the program is $23,624.
Read more about the dance program at Chapman University
University Of California Irvine came in at #7 for dance this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Irvine awarded about 44 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $28,112 in their early career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $20,080 in student loans.
Read more about the dance program at University Of California Irvine
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #8 spot for dance this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. About 14 dance degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Graduates of the dance program make about $57,901 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best dance schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 10 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $31,597 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Arizona State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best dance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 17 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from Arizona State University earn around $27,310 in the first couple years of their career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans.
Read more about the dance program at Arizona State University
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #11 spot for dance this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 29 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. Students borrow a median of $19,309 to complete this degree.
Read more about the dance program at University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #12 for dance this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,061 in student loans.
See the full dance program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Florida State University placed #13 among the best dance schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 20 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. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $21,706 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from Florida State University
Rutgers University New Brunswick placed #14 among the best dance schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 dance students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $58,402 early in their careers. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $26,879 in student loans.
Read more about the dance program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of California Santa Barbara ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best dance schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 16 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from University Of California Santa Barbara earn around $45,488 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,501 to complete this degree.
See the full dance program report for University Of California Santa Barbara
San Diego State University earned the #16 position for dance this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 21 dance degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $51,162. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete this degree.
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University Of Utah earned the #17 position for dance this year. University Of Utah is a very large public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Utah in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $24,125. University Of Utah graduates carry a median of $17,269 in student loans.
See the full dance program report for University Of Utah
California State University Long Beach ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best dance schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 dance degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $30,686. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Texas earned the #19 position for dance this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 18 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Texas in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $25,034 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
See the full dance program report for University Of North Texas
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best dance schools. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Texas State University San Marcos awarded about 33 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $38,967. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
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Ohio State University Main Campus placed #21 among the best dance schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 dance degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the dance program make about $21,167 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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University Of Iowa landed the #22 spot for dance this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 12 dance degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Graduates of the dance program make about $30,353 in their early career. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $24,375 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from University Of Iowa
Texas Christian University came in at #23 for dance this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas Christian University awarded about 15 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from Texas Christian University earn around $60,035 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
See the full dance program report for Texas Christian University
Butler University earned the #24 position for dance this year. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. About 79% of students finish within six years. Butler University awarded about 13 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $68,222 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,351.
See the full dance program report for Butler University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #25 among the best dance schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 11 dance degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Dance graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Dance Schools
These schools also placed among the best for dance this year:
Other Dance Degree Levels
Explore the best dance schools at other degree levels:
View All Dance Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 92 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.