Dance: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Dance graduates earn a median $39,980 four years after finishing — at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on national medians the degree does not clear a typical bill on earnings alone. Where you study and the specific role matter more here than the field average. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Dance ranks #201 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 1% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Iowa | IA | $60,188 |
| 2 | Stephen F Austin State University | TX | $57,593 |
| 3 | Muhlenberg College | PA | $56,503 |
| 4 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | SC | $55,274 |
| 5 | Texas Woman's University | TX | $53,072 |
| 6 | Texas State University | TX | $53,057 |
| 7 | The University of Alabama | AL | $51,744 |
| 8 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | NJ | $51,736 |
| 9 | Chapman University | CA | $50,612 |
| 10 | University of North Texas | TX | $49,063 |
| 11 | Sam Houston State University | TX | $48,568 |
| 12 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | NC | $48,518 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.