by our College Data Analytics Team
[Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 71 schools on the early-career earnings of their dance graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose dance graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Suny College At Brockport, our #1 for dance graduate salaries in the United States. Suny College At Brockport is a public school located in the town of Brockport. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,831.
Strong graduate earnings at Southern Methodist University earned it the #2 place for dance. Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Dance graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of about $49,423 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in dance will find them at Texas State University San Marcos, which ranked #3. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a public institution. Dance graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of about $54,412 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at California Institute Of The Arts earned it the #4 place for dance. Located in the suburb of Valencia, California Institute Of The Arts is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from California Institute Of The Arts typically earn about $45,119 annually.
Muhlenberg College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Muhlenberg College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Allentown. Early-career dance graduates from Muhlenberg College make a median of around $55,505 per year.
Texas Womans University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a public institution. Dance graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of about $45,951 a year early in their careers.
Temple University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a public institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Temple University typically earn about $36,092 annually.
Arizona State University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for dance. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Arizona State University typically earn about $48,294 annually.
University Of Iowa earned the #9 position for dance graduate earnings this year. University Of Iowa is a public school located in the city of Iowa City. Dance graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of about $41,919 a year early in their careers.
Stephen F Austin State University earned the #10 position for dance graduate earnings this year. Stephen F Austin State University is a public school located in the town of Nacogdoches. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,340.
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Dance graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of about $33,291 a year early in their careers.
University Of Missouri Kansas City placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for dance. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. Dance graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of about $33,241 a year early in their careers.
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,909.
New York University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for dance. New York University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. After graduating, dance degree recipients from New York University typically earn about $32,847 annually.
Adelphi University landed the #15 spot for dance salaries this year. Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Garden City. Dance graduates of Adelphi University earn a median of about $32,810 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Texas landed the #16 spot for dance salaries this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a public institution. Early-career dance graduates from University Of North Texas make a median of around $44,100 per year.
Oakland University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for dance. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a public institution. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,999.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities typically earn about $31,597 annually.
University Of California Irvine placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for dance. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $32,865.
California State University Long Beach came in at #20 for dance graduate earnings this year. California State University Long Beach is a public school located in the city of Long Beach. After graduating, dance degree recipients from California State University Long Beach typically earn about $27,350 annually.
Ball State University earned the #21 position for dance graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a public institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Ball State University typically earn about $28,838 annually.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for dance. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,010.
Columbia College Chicago ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Dance graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of about $28,579 a year early in their careers.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania landed the #24 spot for dance salaries this year. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a public school located in the town of Slippery Rock. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania typically earn about $41,568 annually.
Wayne State University earned the #25 position for dance graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. Early-career dance graduates from Wayne State University make a median of around $34,720 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid dance ranking:
Explore the highest-paying dance schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their dance graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 71 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.