2027 Best Value Dance Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for dance students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Dance Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for dance in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. 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 dance program here. 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maryland College Park earned it the #2 place for dance. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Dance graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $57,901. Set against $20,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Montclair State University earned it the #3 place for dance. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,912 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. Dance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career dance graduates make about $23,191. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Suny College At Brockport one of the best values for dance. Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brockport. Students from in state pay about $8,752 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,822 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,190 to complete the dance program here. Dance graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of $39,724 early in their careers. 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 dance. New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jersey City. Students from in state pay about $14,460 in tuition and fees. Dance graduates carry a median of $22,107 in student loans. Early-career dance graduates make about $47,083. Set against $22,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Suny At Purchase College earned the #6 position for value in dance this year. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,016, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the dance program here. 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 landed the #7 spot for dance value this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Dance graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Dance graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $17,110 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania came in at #8 for value in dance this year. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,568, compared with $14,676 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the dance program here. Early-career dance graduates make about $19,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value dance schools. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Dance graduates carry a median of $26,879 in student loans. Dance graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $58,402 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,879 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Rider University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value dance schools. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,120 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $26,241. Early-career dance graduates make about $24,515. Set against $26,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University landed the #11 spot for dance value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Dance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $54,642. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Point Park University came in at #12 for value in dance this year. Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $39,570. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Point Park University generally make around $17,781. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Pace University New York came in at #13 for value in dance this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,510. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the dance program here. Early-career 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 placed #14 among the best values for dance. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,140 in tuition and fees. Dance graduates carry a median of $18,274 in student loans. Early-career dance graduates make about $34,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Skidmore College admits about 21% of applicants.
Hofstra University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value dance schools. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,660. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the dance program here. Early-career dance graduates make about $55,705. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Marymount Manhattan College earned the #16 position for value in dance this year. Set in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,870 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the dance program here. 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 dance schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Students borrow a median of $23,004 to complete the dance program here. Dance graduates of New York University earn a median of $36,556 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
The Ailey School earned the #18 position for value in dance this year. The Ailey School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,817. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the dance program here. Early-career dance graduates make about $13,598. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The Ailey School admits about 32% of applicants.
American Musical And Dramatic Academy came in at #19 for value in dance this year. American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,928. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the dance program here. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from American Musical And Dramatic Academy generally make around $15,881. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The Juilliard School earned the #20 position for value in dance this year. 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. Dance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Dance graduates of The Juilliard School earn a median of $14,220 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Fordham University landed the #21 spot for dance value this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,470. Dance graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career dance graduates make about $20,381. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 59%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
