by our College Data Analytics Team
[Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find where dance graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send dance graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in dance, no school beat California Institute Of The Arts this year. Set 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.
Students chasing top earnings in dance will find them at University Of California Irvine, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a public institution. Early-career dance graduates from University Of California Irvine make a median of around $32,865 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in dance will find them at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from California State University Long Beach typically earn about $27,350 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in dance will find them at Chapman University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Chapman University typically earn about $33,077 annually.
Loyola Marymount University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in dance, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Dance graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of about $35,852 a year early in their careers.
University Of Southern California ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,653.
California State University Fullerton landed the #7 spot for dance salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Early-career dance graduates from California State University Fullerton make a median of around $24,087 per year.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #8 for dance graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Early-career dance graduates from University Of California Los Angeles make a median of around $19,787 per year.
This list is compiled 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 · 8 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.