2026 Best Value Dance Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the dance degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Dance Schools
California State University Fullerton tops our 2026 list of the best value dance schools in California. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $24,087. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
California State University Long Beach is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dance, landing the #2 spot this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Dance graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Dance graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $30,686 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dance, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $20,080. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $28,112. That is a strong return on a $20,080 median debt. The acceptance rate is 29%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Riverside earned it the #4 place for dance. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,636, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $19,187. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of California Riverside generally make around $40,040. That is a strong return on a $19,187 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Santa Barbara earned it the #5 place for dance. Set in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,444, while out-of-state students pay about $47,332. Dance graduates carry a median of $15,501 in student loans. Early-career dance graduates make about $45,488. That is a strong return on a $15,501 median debt. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #6 spot for dance value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $19,309. Dance graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $19,787 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,309 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Marys College Of California placed #7 among the best values for dance. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,803. Dance graduates carry a median of $25,041 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California generally make around $70,806. That is a strong return on a $25,041 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Southern California landed the #8 spot for dance value this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete the dance program here. Dance graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $25,653 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Loyola Marymount University landed the #9 spot for dance value this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,867. Dance graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Dance graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $19,107 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
California Institute Of The Arts landed the #10 spot for dance value this year. Located in the suburb of Valencia, California Institute Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,996. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $26,031. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from California Institute Of The Arts generally make around $22,475. Set against $26,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California Institute Of The Arts admits about 32% of applicants.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 77 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
[Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
