Dance programs
CIP 5003 · Visual & Performing Arts · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
61 institutions report graduate earnings for Dance programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $40,971 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58× and 61% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 24 of the 62 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaCA · Master's | $89,283 n=18 | 73% 1yr | $41,000 | 0.46× | Above +19% | – |
| 2 | New York UniversityNY · Master's | $64,507 n=32 | 66% 5yr | $107,374 | 1.67× | Below -9% | Below 2/2 |
| 3 | University of IowaIA · Bachelor's | $60,188 n=16 | 82% 5yr | $21,500 | 0.36× | Above +56% | Clears 2/2 |
| 4 | Stephen F Austin State UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $57,593 n=18 | – | $28,750 | 0.50× | Above +61% | – |
| 5 | Muhlenberg CollegePA · Bachelor's | $56,503 n=26 | 82% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.48× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 6 | Jacksonville UniversityFL · Master's | $56,162 n=17 | – | – | – | Above +1% | – |
| 7 | University of South Carolina-ColumbiaSC · Bachelor's | $55,274 n=21 | – | $26,000 | 0.47× | Above +61% | – |
| 8 | Texas Woman's UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $53,072 n=31 | 67% 5yr | $21,280 | 0.40× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | Texas State UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $53,057 n=55 | 73% | $20,500 | 0.39× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | The University of AlabamaAL · Bachelor's | $51,744 n=22 | – | $19,500 | 0.38× | Above +50% | – |
| 11 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickNJ · Bachelor's | $51,736 n=36 | – | $25,565 | 0.49× | Above +30% | Below 1/2 |
| 12 | Chapman UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $50,612 n=31 | 61% 5yr | $23,624 | 0.47× | Above +32% | Below 1/2 |
| 13 | The Juilliard SchoolNY · Bachelor's | $50,287 n=19 | – | $27,000 | 0.54× | Above +32% | – |
| 14 | University of North TexasTX · Bachelor's | $49,063 n=18 | – | $20,500 | 0.42× | Above +37% | – |
| 15 | Sam Houston State UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $48,568 n=22 | – | $26,000 | 0.54× | Above +36% | Below 1/2 |
| 16 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteNC · Bachelor's | $48,518 n=24 | – | $21,500 | 0.44× | Above +41% | – |
| 17 | Hofstra UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $48,086 n=16 | – | $23,250 | 0.48× | Above +26% | – |
| 18 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Bachelor's | $48,069 n=20 | – | $19,500 | 0.41× | Above +20% | – |
| 19 | Fordham UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $47,036 n=32 | 56% | $25,000 | 0.53× | Above +24% | Below 1/2 |
| 20 | California State University-Long BeachCA · Bachelor's | $46,387 n=27 | – | $20,500 | 0.44× | Above +21% | Below 1/2 |
| 21 | University of California-RiversideCA · Bachelor's | $45,804 n=17 | – | – | – | Above +19% | – |
| 22 | Western Michigan UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $45,108 n=30 | – | $27,000 | 0.60× | Above +29% | Below 1/2 |
| 23 | University of North Carolina at GreensboroNC · Bachelor's | $45,084 n=35 | 40% 1yr | $25,000 | 0.56× | Above +31% | Below 1/2 |
| 24 | University of California-Santa BarbaraCA · Bachelor's | $44,858 n=18 | – | – | – | Above +17% | – |
| 25 | San Francisco State UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $44,627 n=18 | – | $23,000 | 0.52× | Above +16% | – |
| 26 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's | $43,987 n=29 | 88% 5yr | $23,393 | 0.53× | Above +20% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | East Carolina UniversityNC · Bachelor's | $42,785 n=21 | – | $27,000 | 0.63× | Above +25% | – |
| 28 | University of FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $42,624 n=22 | – | $15,951 | 0.37× | Above +26% | Below 1/2 |
| 29 | Columbia College ChicagoIL · Bachelor's | $41,842 n=39 | 54% | $27,000 | 0.65× | Above +11% | Below 1/2 |
| 30 | Anderson UniversityIN · Bachelor's | $41,772 n=19 | – | $27,000 | 0.65× | Above +12% | – |
| 31 | Mercyhurst UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $41,049 n=22 | – | $26,500 | 0.65× | Above +9% | – |
| 32 | Florida State UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $40,892 n=22 | – | $21,250 | 0.52× | Above +21% | – |
| 33 | Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaPA · Bachelor's | $40,797 n=28 | – | $27,000 | 0.66× | Above +8% | Below 1/2 |
| 34 | SUNY BrockportNY · Bachelor's | $40,516 n=27 | 76% 5yr | $21,500 | 0.53× | Above +7% | Clears 2/2 |
| 35 | University of California-IrvineCA · Bachelor's | $40,466 n=17 | – | $20,080 | 0.50× | Above +5% | Below 1/2 |
| 36 | Pace UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $39,716 n=43 | – | $27,000 | 0.68× | Above +4% | Below 1/2 |
| 37 | University at BuffaloNY · Bachelor's | $39,576 n=22 | – | $20,446 | 0.52× | Above +4% | – |
| 38 | Montclair State UniversityNJ · Bachelor's | $39,064 n=46 | – | $26,776 | 0.69× | Below -2% | Below 2/2 |
| 39 | New York UniversityNY · Bachelor's | $38,571 n=33 | – | $23,004 | 0.60× | Above +1% | Below 1/2 |
| 40 | Marymount Manhattan CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $38,227 n=50 | 44% | $26,595 | 0.70× | Above +0% | Below 1/2 |
| 41 | Minnesota State University-MankatoMN · Bachelor's | $37,959 n=16 | – | $26,100 | 0.69× | Below -5% | – |
| 42 | Point Park UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $37,205 n=59 | 44% | $27,000 | 0.73× | Below -1% | Below 2/2 |
| 43 | University of Nevada-Las VegasNV · Bachelor's | $36,925 n=17 | – | $21,625 | 0.59× | Below -2% | – |
| 44 | George Mason UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $36,901 n=22 | – | $26,950 | 0.73× | Below -3% | – |
| 45 | Dean CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $36,644 n=63 | 33% | $27,000 | 0.74× | Below -16% | Below 2/2 |
| 46 | Temple UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $36,524 n=16 | – | $27,000 | 0.74× | Below -3% | Below 2/2 |
| 47 | DeSales UniversityPA · Bachelor's | $36,515 n=16 | – | $27,000 | 0.74× | Below -3% | Below 2/2 |
| 48 | University of California-Los AngelesCA · Bachelor's | $36,277 n=19 | – | $19,309 | 0.53× | Below -6% | – |
| 49 | Berklee College of MusicMA · Bachelor's | $35,702 n=30 | – | $27,000 | 0.76× | Below -18% | – |
| 50 | Loyola Marymount UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $35,288 n=19 | – | $22,750 | 0.65× | Below -8% | Below 2/2 |
| 51 | Ball State UniversityIN · Bachelor's | $34,518 n=16 | – | – | – | Below -8% | – |
| 52 | American Musical and Dramatic AcademyNY · Bachelor's | $34,107 n=19 | – | $27,000 | 0.79× | Below -10% | – |
| 53 | Oklahoma City UniversityOK · Bachelor's | $34,105 n=39 | 44% | $24,100 | 0.71× | Below -4% | Below 2/2 |
| 54 | University of ArizonaAZ · Bachelor's | $34,010 n=18 | – | $19,875 | 0.58× | Below -8% | – |
| 55 | University of South FloridaFL · Bachelor's | $33,269 n=21 | – | $21,927 | 0.66× | Below -1% | Below 2/2 |
| 56 | University of North Carolina School of the ArtsNC · Bachelor's | $32,463 n=40 | – | $22,454 | 0.69× | Below -5% | Below 2/2 |
| 57 | Belhaven UniversityMS · Bachelor's | $32,324 n=21 | – | $22,500 | 0.70× | Below -2% | Below 2/2 |
| 58 | SUNY at Purchase CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $30,406 n=47 | 38% | $26,000 | 0.85× | Below -20% | Below 2/2 |
| 59 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWI · Bachelor's | $29,695 n=24 | – | $25,742 | 0.87× | Below -24% | – |
| 60 | University of Missouri-Kansas CityMO · Bachelor's | $28,834 n=18 | – | $18,800 | 0.65× | Below -19% | – |
| 61 | The Ailey SchoolNY · UG cert | $24,453 n=30 | – | $13,898 | 0.57× | Below -36% | Below 2/2 |
| 62 | CUNY Lehman CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $23,522 n=22 | – | – | – | Below -38% | – |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $53,057 | 5 |
| California | $44,858 | 9 |
| North Carolina | $43,935 | 4 |
| Florida | $41,758 | 4 |
| New York | $39,576 | 13 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,001 | 6 |
States with at least 3 reporting Dance programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Dance programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Dance programs in this dataset are Saint Mary's College of California ($89,283), New York University ($64,507), University of Iowa ($60,188). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Dance programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 24 of the 62 Dance programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
Track Dance programs across your peer set
We build tailored dashboards, the fields, institutions and risk signals your enrollment or program-review team cares about, kept current. Tell us what you'd want to watch.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.