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. The highest-paying schools turn a dance degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the early-career earnings of their dance graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send dance graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Oakland University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a public institution. Dance graduates of Oakland University earn a median of about $31,999 a year early in their careers.
Ball State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in dance, landing the #2 spot 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 produces some of the highest-paid graduates in dance, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career dance graduates from Ohio State University Main Campus make a median of around $40,010 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Columbia College Chicago earned it the #4 place for dance. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the dance program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,579.
Wayne State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in dance, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. Dance graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of about $34,720 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #6 position for dance graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a public institution. Early-career dance graduates from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee make a median of around $25,456 per year.
Hope College came in at #7 for dance graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Holland, Hope College is a private not-for-profit institution. Dance graduates of Hope College earn a median of about $23,050 a year early in their careers.
Western Michigan University came in at #8 for dance graduate earnings this year. Western Michigan University is a public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Western Michigan University typically earn about $25,211 annually.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned the #9 position for dance graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point typically earn about $20,625 annually.
Anderson University Indiana placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for dance. Located in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Indiana is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Anderson University Indiana typically earn about $20,329 annually.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #11 spot for dance salaries this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Dance graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $14,831 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries dance graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 11 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.