2027 Best Dance Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Dance programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for dance students.
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Best Schools for Dance in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall dance education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Dance
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in dance. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 18 dance degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
Read more about the dance program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best dance schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $66,254 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for dance. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 19 dance degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Dance graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,061.
More information about a degree in dance from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Ohio State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in dance, ranking #4. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 25 dance degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their dance degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $21,167 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full dance details for Ohio State University Main Campus
Butler University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in dance, landing the #5 spot this year. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Butler University awarded about 13 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. Typical student debt for the program is $25,351.
Get the full dance details for Butler University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #6 position for dance this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $58,659 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans.
Get the full dance details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Hope College earned the #7 position for dance this year. Set in the city of Holland, Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Hope College graduates 80% of students within six years. Hope College awarded about 13 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $23,050 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,334.
Read more about the dance program at Hope College
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #8 spot for dance this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 dance degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $14,831. Typical student debt for the program is $20,542.
More information about a degree in dance from Indiana University Bloomington
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #9 position for dance this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 14 dance degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete this degree.
See the full dance program report for Ohio University Main Campus
Wayne State University landed the #10 spot for dance this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 dance students who graduated with this degree at Wayne State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from Wayne State University earn around $23,626 in the first couple years of their career. Wayne State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full dance program report for Wayne State University
Western Michigan University placed #11 among the best dance schools. This large public university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 19 dance students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $21,540 early in their careers. Western Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from Western Michigan University
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #12 among the best dance schools. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 dance students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn around $25,456 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in dance from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Columbia College Chicago came in at #13 for dance this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Columbia College Chicago awarded about 20 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $29,160 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the dance program at Columbia College Chicago
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best dance schools. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point awarded about 11 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earn around $20,625 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Read more about the dance program at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 schools evaluated.
- 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.