2027 Best Dance Schools in the Southwest Region
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 15 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 Southwest 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
No school ranked higher than Southern Methodist University this year for dance. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dallas. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. Southern Methodist University awarded about 18 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $70,632 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,712.
Get the full dance details for Southern Methodist University
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top schools for dance. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 dance students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $57,819 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275.
Get the full dance details for The University Of Texas At Austin
Students looking for a strong dance program will find one at Arizona State University, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 23 dance students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from Arizona State University earn around $27,310 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in dance from Arizona State University
A rank of #4 makes University Of North Texas one of the top schools for dance. This very large public university is located in the city of Denton. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. University Of North Texas awarded about 18 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $25,034. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
Read more about the dance program at University Of North Texas
A rank of #5 makes Texas State University San Marcos one of the top schools for dance. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 33 dance students who graduated with this degree at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $38,967. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the dance program at Texas State University San Marcos
Texas Christian University placed #6 among the best dance schools. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 dance students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, dance degree recipients from Texas Christian University generally make around $60,035. Typical student debt for the program is $22,960.
See the full dance program report for Texas Christian University
Scottsdale Community College landed the #7 spot for dance this year. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. Scottsdale Community College awarded about 16 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $48,039 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,084.
More information about a degree in dance from Scottsdale Community College
University Of Arizona earned the #8 position for dance this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Arizona awarded about 41 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $24,826 early in their careers. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $20,616 in student loans.
Read more about the dance program at University Of Arizona
Texas Womans University earned the #9 position for dance this year. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas Womans University awarded about 28 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of $29,634 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,953 to complete this degree.
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University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #10 among the best dance schools. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 18 dance degrees were awarded at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the dance program make about $14,632 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,899.
See the full dance program report for University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Texas Tech University placed #11 among the best dance schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. About 69% of students finish within six years. Texas Tech University awarded about 19 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their dance degree from Texas Tech University earn around $50,332 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
More information about a degree in dance from Texas Tech University
Oklahoma City University landed the #12 spot for dance this year. Oklahoma City University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oklahoma City. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Oklahoma City University awarded about 24 dance degrees in the most recent data year. Dance graduates of Oklahoma City University earn a median of $19,548 early in their careers. Oklahoma City University graduates carry a median of $24,100 in student loans.
See the full dance program report for Oklahoma City University
Sam Houston State University came in at #13 for dance this year. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. Sam Houston State University graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 dance students who graduated with this degree at Sam Houston State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the dance program make about $19,202 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in dance from Sam Houston State University
Grand Canyon University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best dance schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Grand Canyon University graduates 44% of students within six years. About 10 dance degrees were awarded at Grand Canyon University in the most recent year. Students who receive their dance degree from Grand Canyon University earn around $56,285 in the first couple years of their career. Grand Canyon University graduates carry a median of $30,027 in student loans.
Read more about the dance program at Grand Canyon University
Stephen F Austin State University placed #15 among the best dance schools. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public institution. Stephen F Austin State University graduates 53% of students within six years. About 11 dance degrees were awarded at Stephen F Austin State University in the most recent year. Dance graduates of Stephen F Austin State University earn a median of $33,340 early in their careers. Stephen F Austin State University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
Get the full dance details for Stephen F Austin State University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 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.
