2027 Best Value General Dance Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[General Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/general-dance/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general dance education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general dance schools.
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2027 Best Value General Dance Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general dance degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Dance Schools
Cuny Hunter College tops our 2027 list of the best value general dance schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the general dance program here. General Dance graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $51,372 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
University Of Maryland College Park is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general dance, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $20,836. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. That is a strong return on a $20,836 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Students looking for strong value in general dance will find it at Montclair State University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,912, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. General Dance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Dance graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $23,191 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in general dance will find it at Suny College At Brockport, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,752, with out-of-state students paying around $15,822. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $24,190. Early-career general dance graduates make about $39,724. That is a strong return on a $24,190 median debt. Suny College At Brockport admits about 71% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes New Jersey City University one of the best values for general dance. Set in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,460. Students borrow a median of $22,107 to complete the general dance program here. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from New Jersey City University generally make around $47,083. Set against $22,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Jersey City University admits about 98% of applicants.
Suny At Purchase College came in at #6 for value in general dance this year. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,016, compared with $19,266 for out-of-state students. General Dance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Dance graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $12,039 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo came in at #7 for value in general dance this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. General Dance graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career general dance graduates make about $17,110. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania came in at #8 for value in general dance this year. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,568, compared with $14,676 for out-of-state students. General Dance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Dance graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $19,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania admits about 72% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #9 position for value in general dance this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $26,879. Early-career general dance graduates make about $58,402. Set against $26,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Rider University landed the #10 spot for general dance value this year. Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. In-state tuition and fees average $41,120. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $26,241. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from Rider University generally make around $24,515. That is a strong return on a $26,241 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Temple University came in at #11 for value in general dance this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $27,000. Early-career general dance graduates make about $54,642. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Point Park University earned the #12 position for value in general dance this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,570. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $27,000. General Dance graduates of Point Park University earn a median of $17,781 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Point Park University admits about 97% of applicants.
Pace University New York placed #13 among the best values for general dance. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,510. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general dance program here. Early-career general dance graduates make about $19,614. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Skidmore College landed the #14 spot for general dance value this year. Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,140. General Dance graduates carry a median of $18,274 in student loans. Early-career general dance graduates make about $34,440. That is a strong return on a $18,274 median debt. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Hofstra University placed #15 among the best values for general dance. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $57,660. General Dance graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $55,705. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Marymount Manhattan College came in at #16 for value in general dance this year. Located in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,870. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general dance program here. General Dance graduates of Marymount Manhattan College earn a median of $21,880 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
New York University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value general dance schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Students borrow a median of $23,004 to complete the general dance program here. General Dance graduates of New York University earn a median of $36,556 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,004 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
The Ailey School earned the #18 position for value in general dance this year. Located in the city of New York, The Ailey School is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $14,817 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the general dance program here. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from The Ailey School generally make around $13,598. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The Ailey School admits about 32% of applicants.
The Juilliard School placed #19 among the best values for general dance. The Juilliard School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $57,950 in tuition and fees. General Dance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Dance graduates of The Juilliard School earn a median of $14,220 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Fordham University placed #20 among the best values for general dance. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,470. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $20,381. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
- 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.