2027 Best Value Dance Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for dance students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Dance Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dance Schools
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor tops our 2027 list of the best value dance schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the dance program here. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,137 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in dance will find it at Wayne State University, which ranked #2. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the dance program here. Early-career dance graduates make about $23,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #3 place for dance. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $19,061. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. That is a strong return on a $19,061 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dance, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $18,248. Dance graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career dance graduates make about $20,625. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned it the #5 place for dance. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the dance program here. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $25,456. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value dance schools. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the dance program here. Early-career dance graduates make about $21,540. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #7 for value in dance this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $21,813. Early-career dance graduates make about $59,877. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #8 position for value in dance this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete the dance program here. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $14,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in dance this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the dance program here. Early-career dance graduates make about $21,167. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for dance. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Dance graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Early-career dance graduates make about $49,736. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value dance schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $23,530. Dance graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago earned the #12 position for value in dance this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,088. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $29,160. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Hope College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value dance schools. Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Holland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,484. Students borrow a median of $26,334 to complete the dance program here. Early-career dance graduates make about $23,050. That is a strong return on a $26,334 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Butler University came in at #14 for value in dance this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,560 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,351 to complete the dance program here. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. Set against $25,351 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Narrow Dance Schools by State
View All Dance Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
