by our College Data Analytics Team
[Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a dance degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying dance schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose dance graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Suny College At Brockport the top school for dance graduate earnings in New York. Set in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a public institution. Dance graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of about $49,831 a year early in their careers.
New York University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, dance degree recipients from New York University typically earn about $32,847 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Adelphi University earned it the #3 place for dance. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit institution. Dance graduates of Adelphi University earn a median of about $32,810 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #4 place for dance. Cuny Lehman College is a public school located in the city of Bronx. After graduating, dance degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College typically earn about $27,843 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in dance will find them at Marymount Manhattan College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a private not-for-profit institution. Dance graduates of Marymount Manhattan College earn a median of about $35,998 a year early in their careers.
Fordham University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Early-career dance graduates from Fordham University make a median of around $35,086 per year.
Suny College At Potsdam came in at #7 for dance graduate earnings this year. Suny College At Potsdam is a public school located in the town of Potsdam. Dance graduates of Suny College At Potsdam earn a median of about $24,094 a year early in their careers.
Pace University New York ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Dance graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of about $19,614 a year early in their careers.
University At Buffalo ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying dance schools. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a public institution. Dance graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of about $17,110 a year early in their careers.
Suny At Purchase College earned the #10 position for dance graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a public institution. Early-career dance graduates from Suny At Purchase College make a median of around $21,932 per year.
American Musical And Dramatic Academy earned the #11 position for dance graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career dance graduates from American Musical And Dramatic Academy make a median of around $15,881 per year.
The Juilliard School earned the #12 position for dance graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, The Juilliard School is a private not-for-profit institution. Dance graduates of The Juilliard School earn a median of about $14,220 a year early in their careers.
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 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.