2027 Best Dance Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Dance is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their dance programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for dance students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Dance in the Middle Atlantic Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the dance degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Dance
University Of Maryland College Park tops our 2027 ranking of the best dance schools. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 20 dance degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Dance graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
See the full dance program report for University Of Maryland College Park
Rutgers University New Brunswick is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in dance, landing the #2 spot this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. About 17 dance degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Students who receive their dance degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $58,402 in the first couple years of their career. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $26,879 in student loans.
See the full dance program report for Rutgers University New Brunswick
New York University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in dance, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 65 dance students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from New York University earn around $36,556 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $23,004 in student loans.
See the full dance program report for New York University
Students looking for a strong dance program will find one at Cuny Hunter College, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 14 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $51,372 early in their careers. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans.
Read more about the dance program at Cuny Hunter College
A rank of #5 makes Skidmore College one of the top schools for dance. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Skidmore College graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 dance students who graduated with this degree at Skidmore College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Skidmore College generally make around $34,440. Students borrow a median of $18,274 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in dance from Skidmore College
Temple University placed #6 among the best dance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Philadelphia. About 75% of students finish within six years. Temple University awarded about 33 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $54,642 in their early career. Temple University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full dance details for Temple University
Fordham University landed the #7 spot for dance this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 29 dance degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Dance graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $20,381 early in their careers. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from Fordham University
University At Buffalo earned the #8 position for dance this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. About 15 dance degrees were awarded at University At Buffalo in the most recent year. Students who receive their dance degree from University At Buffalo earn around $17,110 in the first couple years of their career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from University At Buffalo
Hofstra University earned the #9 position for dance this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 10 dance students who graduated with this degree at Hofstra University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from Hofstra University earn around $55,705 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in dance from Hofstra University
Suny College At Brockport came in at #10 for dance this year. Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brockport. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny College At Brockport awarded about 14 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of $39,724 early in their careers. Suny College At Brockport graduates carry a median of $24,190 in student loans.
Read more about the dance program at Suny College At Brockport
Pace University New York ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best dance schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Pace University New York awarded about 34 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $19,614 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full dance details for Pace University New York
Montclair State University earned the #12 position for dance this year. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Montclair State University awarded about 35 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $23,191 in their early career. Montclair State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from Montclair State University
Rider University came in at #13 for dance this year. Set in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rider University awarded about 13 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Rider University generally make around $24,515. Typical student debt for the program is $26,241.
Get the full dance details for Rider University
Marymount Manhattan College landed the #14 spot for dance this year. Set in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 dance students who graduated with this degree at Marymount Manhattan College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from Marymount Manhattan College earn around $21,880 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the dance program at Marymount Manhattan College
New Jersey City University came in at #15 for dance this year. New Jersey City University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jersey City. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 dance students who graduated with this degree at New Jersey City University in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of New Jersey City University earn a median of $47,083 early in their careers. New Jersey City University graduates carry a median of $22,107 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from New Jersey City University
The Juilliard School came in at #16 for dance this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 22 dance degrees were awarded at The Juilliard School in the most recent year. Students who receive their dance degree from The Juilliard School earn around $14,220 in the first couple years of their career. The Juilliard School graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the dance program at The Juilliard School
Suny At Purchase College placed #17 among the best dance schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Purchase. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 dance students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Purchase College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from Suny At Purchase College earn around $12,039 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full dance details for Suny At Purchase College
American Musical And Dramatic Academy landed the #18 spot for dance this year. Set in the city of New York, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. American Musical And Dramatic Academy awarded about 28 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from American Musical And Dramatic Academy earn around $15,881 in the first couple years of their career. American Musical And Dramatic Academy graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from American Musical And Dramatic Academy
Point Park University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best dance schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Point Park University awarded about 76 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from Point Park University earn around $17,781 in the first couple years of their career. Point Park University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full dance details for Point Park University
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania came in at #20 for dance this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Slippery Rock. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania graduates 66% of students within six years. About 14 dance degrees were awarded at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Dance graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $19,681 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the dance program at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
The Ailey School placed #21 among the best dance schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 42 dance degrees were awarded at The Ailey School in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from The Ailey School generally make around $13,598. The Ailey School graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
Get the full dance details for The Ailey School
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 21 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.