2027 Best Dance Schools in New York
Dance programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their dance programs.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best dance schools.
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Best Schools for Dance in New York
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
No school ranked higher than New York University this year for dance. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 65 dance degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from New York University generally make around $36,556. Typical student debt for the program is $23,004.
More information about a degree in dance from New York University
Cuny Hunter College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best dance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $11,091.
See the full dance program report for Cuny Hunter College
Students looking for a strong dance program will find one at Skidmore College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Graduates of the dance program make about $34,440 in their early career. Skidmore College graduates carry a median of $18,274 in student loans.
Get the full dance details for Skidmore College
Fordham University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best dance schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 dance students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $20,381. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Get the full dance details for Fordham University
A rank of #5 makes University At Buffalo one of the top schools for dance. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University At Buffalo awarded about 15 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $17,110 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full dance program report for University At Buffalo
Hofstra University earned the #6 position for dance this year. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Hofstra University awarded about 10 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $55,705. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in dance from Hofstra University
Suny College At Brockport placed #7 among the best dance schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Brockport. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 14 dance degrees were awarded at Suny College At Brockport in the most recent year. Dance graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of $39,724 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,190 to complete this degree.
Read more about the dance program at Suny College At Brockport
Pace University New York landed the #8 spot for dance this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in dance from Pace University New York
Marymount Manhattan College placed #9 among the best dance schools. Set in the city of New York, Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 34 dance students who graduated with this degree at Marymount Manhattan College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Marymount Manhattan College generally make around $21,880. Marymount Manhattan College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from Marymount Manhattan College
The Juilliard School landed the #10 spot for dance this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 22 dance degrees were awarded at The Juilliard School in the most recent year. Graduates of the dance program make about $14,220 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full dance details for The Juilliard School
Suny At Purchase College earned the #11 position for dance this year. 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. Dance graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $12,039 early in their careers. Suny At Purchase College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from Suny At Purchase College
American Musical And Dramatic Academy landed the #12 spot for dance this year. Located in the city of New York, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit university. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 28 dance degrees were awarded at American Musical And Dramatic Academy in the most recent 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. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the dance program at American Musical And Dramatic Academy
The Ailey School came in at #13 for dance this year. The Ailey School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The Ailey School awarded about 42 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $13,598 in their early career. The Ailey School graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full dance program report for The Ailey School
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 13 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.
