2026 Best Dance Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Dance associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 364 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Dance Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Our analysis found Scottsdale Community College to be the best Dance school in the United States. This public school is set in Scottsdale, AZ. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Graduates carry a median of $13,084 in student loans. Get the full Scottsdale Community College report
Austin Community College District came in at #2 on this year's Dance ranking in the United States. Based in Austin, TX, Austin Community College District is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Students borrow a median of $14,519 to complete their Dance program here. Read more about Austin Community College District
A rank of #3 makes Utah Valley University one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Orem, UT. About 40% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Utah Valley University Dance students take on a median of $16,478 in debt. Get the full Utah Valley University report
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Queensborough Community College one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Bayside, NY, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,210, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $10,052 in student loans. Get the full Cuny Queensborough Community College report
A rank of #5 makes Nassau Community College one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Garden City, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $12,130. Nassau Community College Dance students take on a median of $11,850 in debt. See the full Nassau Community College profile
San Diego Mesa College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Dance schools. This public school is set in San Diego, CA. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. San Diego Mesa College Dance students take on a median of $6,999 in debt. See the full San Diego Mesa College profile
Dean College landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Franklin, MA. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,526. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More on Dean College
Beloit College placed #8 among Dance schools in the United States. See the full Beloit College profile
Brigham Young University Idaho placed #9 among Dance schools in the United States. Read more about Brigham Young University Idaho
Gustavus Adolphus College placed #10 among Dance schools in the United States. Read the full report on Gustavus Adolphus College
West Virginia University landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. More on West Virginia University
Pitzer College
Pitzer College placed #12 among Dance schools in the United States. Get the full Pitzer College report
Case Western Reserve University did well this year, earning the #13 position. More on Case Western Reserve University
Friends University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Dance schools. Get the full Friends University report
Loyola University Chicago did well this year, earning the #15 position. See the full Loyola University Chicago profile
Nova Southeastern University placed #16 among Dance schools in the United States. Get the full Nova Southeastern University report
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Sam Houston State University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. See the full Sam Houston State University profile
Eastern Michigan University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. More on Eastern Michigan University
Suny College At Brockport came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Read more about Suny College At Brockport
Cerritos College
Cerritos College placed #21 among Dance schools in the United States. See the full Cerritos College profile
Georgian Court University placed #22 among Dance schools in the United States. Read the full report on Georgian Court University
Cedar Crest College did well this year, earning the #23 position. More on Cedar Crest College
Orange Coast College placed #24 among Dance schools in the United States. Get the full Orange Coast College report
Cuny Hunter College did well this year, earning the #25 position. See the full Cuny Hunter College profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Dance Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Oakland University did well this year, earning the #26 position. Read more about Oakland University
Bard College At Simons Rock landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. See the full Bard College At Simons Rock profile
The University Of Montana placed #28 among Dance schools in the United States. Read more about The University Of Montana
California State University Long Beach did well this year, earning the #29 position. See the full California State University Long Beach profile
Adelphi University placed #30 among Dance schools in the United States. See the full Adelphi University profile
College Of Southern Nevada landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. Get the full College Of Southern Nevada report
New York University did well this year, earning the #32 position. See the full New York University profile
University Of California San Diego ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Dance schools. See the full University Of California San Diego profile
University Of Iowa came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Iowa
Western Michigan University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Dance schools. Read more about Western Michigan University
Kansas State University placed #36 among Dance schools in the United States. Get the full Kansas State University report
New Mexico State University Main Campus came in at #37 in this year's ranking. More on New Mexico State University Main Campus
Temple University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Dance schools. See the full Temple University profile
Lindenwood University came in at #39 in this year's ranking. More on Lindenwood University
University Of Kansas ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Dance schools. Get the full University Of Kansas report
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Dance schools. More on University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
University Of North Texas placed #42 among Dance schools in the United States. See the full University Of North Texas profile
Johns Hopkins University placed #43 among Dance schools in the United States. More on Johns Hopkins University
Western Kentucky University did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read the full report on Western Kentucky University
Dixie State College Of Utah did well this year, earning the #45 position. See the full Dixie State College Of Utah profile
Southern Methodist University landed the #46 spot in the United States this year. See the full Southern Methodist University profile
Rowan University
Rowan University landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. See the full Rowan University profile
Monterey Peninsula College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Dance schools. Read the full report on Monterey Peninsula College
Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #49 position. Get the full Wesleyan University report
Denison University landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. See the full Denison University profile
Related Dance Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Dance Schools (All Levels)
- Best Dance Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Dance Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Dance Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Dance Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Dance Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Dance Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 364 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.