2026 Best Value Dance Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Dance associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 364 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Dance Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Leading the list is Scottsdale Community College, our #1 best-value Dance school in the United States. Scottsdale Community College is a public school based in Scottsdale, AZ. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,084 to complete their Dance program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,905 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Scottsdale Community College
You'll get strong value at Austin Community College District, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in Austin, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Austin Community College District Dance students take on a median of $14,519 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,177 ten years after entry. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Austin Community College District profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queensborough Community College earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Bayside, NY, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,210, while out-of-state students pay about $8,090. Cuny Queensborough Community College Dance students take on a median of $10,052 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,214 ten years after entry. Set against $10,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Cuny Queensborough Community College profile
You'll get strong value at San Diego Mesa College, which ranked #4 this year. Based in San Diego, CA, San Diego Mesa College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. The median Dance program debt is $6,999. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,120. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full San Diego Mesa College report
Out of the 364 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Nassau Community College landed the #5 spot. Located in Garden City, NY, Nassau Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $48,248. Set against $11,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Nassau Community College report
Utah Valley University landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Orem, UT, Utah Valley University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Utah Valley University Dance students take on a median of $16,478 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,486. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt. See the full Utah Valley University profile
Dean College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Franklin, MA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,526. The median Dance program debt is $27,000. Dean College alumni report median earnings of $38,109 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dean College admits about 74% of applicants. Read more about Dean College
Saddleback College placed #8 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. Read the full report on Saddleback College
San Joaquin Delta College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. Get the full San Joaquin Delta College report
Stephen F Austin State University landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Stephen F Austin State University
American University placed #11 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. More on American University
Scripps College
Scripps College landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Scripps College
Visible Music College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Visible Music College
Bennington College placed #14 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. See the full Bennington College profile
Case Western Reserve University placed #15 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. See the full Case Western Reserve University profile
Appalachian State University placed #16 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. See the full Appalachian State University profile
Sam Houston State University placed #17 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. Read the full report on Sam Houston State University
University Of Houston placed #18 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Houston
Bucks County Community College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Bucks County Community College report
St Olaf College
St Olaf College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. See the full St Olaf College profile
Ursinus College
Ursinus College placed #21 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. Get the full Ursinus College report
Northwest Vista College placed #22 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. More on Northwest Vista College
Colorado College
Colorado College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. See the full Colorado College profile
Long Island University C W Post Campus landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Long Island University C W Post Campus
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Minnesota State University Mankato profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Dance Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Middlebury College landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Middlebury College
Kent State University At Kent came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. See the full Kent State University At Kent profile
Modesto Junior College came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. See the full Modesto Junior College profile
New Jersey City University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. Read the full report on New Jersey City University
Ohio University Lancaster Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Read more about Ohio University Lancaster Campus
Brenau University offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. More on Brenau University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #32 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
College Of Southern Idaho placed #33 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. Read more about College Of Southern Idaho
Estrella Mountain Community College landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Estrella Mountain Community College profile
Franklin And Marshall College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full Franklin And Marshall College profile
Florida Southern College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. Read more about Florida Southern College
Kennesaw State University landed the #37 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Kennesaw State University
Barnard College
Barnard College came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. See the full Barnard College profile
Sarah Lawrence College placed #39 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. More on Sarah Lawrence College
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Nebraska Lincoln profile
Western Kentucky University came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. More on Western Kentucky University
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. More on Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
The Ailey School
The Ailey School ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. Read more about The Ailey School
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #44 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Madison report
University Of Nevada Reno ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. More on University Of Nevada Reno
California Institute Of The Arts ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. Read the full report on California Institute Of The Arts
California State University Dominguez Hills offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on California State University Dominguez Hills
High Point University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. Get the full High Point University report
Rhode Island College landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Rhode Island College
University At Buffalo landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University At Buffalo
Related Dance Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Dance Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Dance Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Dance Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Dance Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Dance Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Dance Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Dance Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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).
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