2027 Best Value Dance Schools in the Southwest Region
[Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for dance students.
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2027 Best Value Dance Schools in the Southwest 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 Texas Womans University, our #1 best value for dance in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,640, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Dance graduates carry a median of $21,953 in student loans. Dance graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of $29,634 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,953 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Scottsdale Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value dance schools. Set in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,084 to complete the dance program here. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Scottsdale Community College generally make around $48,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arizona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in dance, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete the dance program here. Dance graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $27,310 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stephen F Austin State University earned it the #4 place for dance. Stephen F Austin State University is a large public school located in the town of Nacogdoches. Students from in state pay about $11,128 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,968. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the dance program here. Early-career dance graduates make about $33,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stephen F Austin State University admits about 94% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus one of the best values for dance. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Students borrow a median of $21,899 to complete the dance program here. Dance graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $14,632 early in their careers. Set against $21,899 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of North Texas placed #6 among the best values for dance. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $24,000. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $25,034. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Sam Houston State University placed #7 among the best values for dance. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $19,202. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona earned the #8 position for value in dance this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $20,616 to complete the dance program here. Early-career dance graduates make about $24,826. That is a strong return on a $20,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #9 for value in dance this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $22,500. Early-career dance graduates make about $38,967. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
Texas Tech University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value dance schools. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Dance graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Dance graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $50,332 early in their careers. Set against $24,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value dance schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete the dance program here. Early-career dance graduates make about $57,819. That is a strong return on a $21,275 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Grand Canyon University earned the #12 position for value in dance this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Dance graduates carry a median of $30,027 in student loans. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $56,285. That is a strong return on a $30,027 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Oklahoma City University placed #13 among the best values for dance. Oklahoma City University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oklahoma City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,754. Dance graduates carry a median of $24,100 in student loans. Early-career dance graduates make about $19,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oklahoma City University admits about 77% of applicants.
Texas Christian University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value dance schools. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,740. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $22,960. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Set against $22,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Christian University admits about 44% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University landed the #15 spot for dance value this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $20,712. Dance graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $70,632 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
