2026 Best Value Dance Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Dance certificate 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 arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
For return on investment, no school beat University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire this year in the United States. This public school is set in Eau Claire, WI. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete their Dance program here. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire alumni report median earnings of $58,561 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire admits about 82% of applicants. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Out of the 364 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Western Michigan University landed the #2 spot. Set in Kalamazoo, MI, Western Michigan University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. The median Dance program debt is $27,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,562. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants. Get the full Western Michigan University report
Out of the 364 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, San Diego Mesa College landed the #3 spot. San Diego Mesa College is a public school based in San Diego, CA. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Typical Dance student debt is $6,999. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,120 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full San Diego Mesa College report
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi came in at #4 on this year's best-value Dance ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Corpus Christi, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, compared with $20,794 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,508 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,865 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted. See the full Texas A And M University Corpus Christi profile
University Of Florida came in at #5 on this year's best-value Dance ranking in the United States. Located in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. The median Dance program debt is $16,500. University Of Florida alumni report median earnings of $71,588 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 24% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of Florida
University Of Nevada Las Vegas ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. This public school is set in Las Vegas, NV. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Students borrow a median of $24,652 to complete their Dance program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,037. Set against $24,652 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nevada Las Vegas has an acceptance rate of 96%. Read more about University Of Nevada Las Vegas
University Of Wisconsin Madison offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Set in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete their Dance program here. University Of Wisconsin Madison alumni report median earnings of $73,792 a decade after entry. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Madison
Cornish College Of The Arts landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Cornish College Of The Arts report
Long Beach City College placed #9 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. Read the full report on Long Beach City College
Scottsdale Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Get the full Scottsdale Community College report
The New School
The New School landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full The New School profile
Arizona State University offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Read more about Arizona State University
Austin Community College District placed #13 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. See the full Austin Community College District profile
Southern Utah University came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Southern Utah University report
Dean College
Dean College landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Dean College
East Carolina University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. See the full East Carolina University profile
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #17 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. Get the full Glendale Community College Glendale Az report
Gonzaga University landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Gonzaga University report
Pasadena City College placed #19 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. Read the full report on Pasadena City College
Houston Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. See the full Houston Community College profile
Moorpark College
Moorpark College landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Moorpark College profile
Sam Houston State University landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Sam Houston State University
Gustavus Adolphus College landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Gustavus Adolphus College
Suny College At Brockport ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. See the full Suny College At Brockport profile
University Of Nebraska Lincoln offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Read the full report on University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Dance Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
California State University Channel Islands ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. More on California State University Channel Islands
San Diego State University offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on San Diego State University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Hawaii At Manoa report
Rockford College
Rockford College came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Rockford College report
Saint Marys College Of California offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. More on Saint Marys College Of California
The University Of Texas At Austin offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Austin
Antelope Valley College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. See the full Antelope Valley College profile
University Of Utah ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. Read more about University Of Utah
Eastern University landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Eastern University
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Ohio State University Main Campus
Georgian Court University offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on Georgian Court University
Ursinus College
Ursinus College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. More on Ursinus College
Brenau University came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Brenau University
Rider University
Rider University ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. Get the full Rider University report
Bates College
Bates College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Bates College report
Cuny City College placed #41 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. See the full Cuny City College profile
Nassau Community College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. See the full Nassau Community College profile
Ohio University Southern Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. Get the full Ohio University Southern Campus report
Seton Hill University came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. See the full Seton Hill University profile
Allan Hancock College placed #45 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. Read more about Allan Hancock College
Desales University offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Get the full Desales University report
San Francisco State University placed #47 among the best-value Dance schools in the United States. Get the full San Francisco State University report
Santa Ana College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Santa Ana College report
University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Dance schools. More on University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne
California Institute Of The Arts offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. More on California Institute Of The Arts
Related Dance Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Dance Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Dance Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Dance Associate’s 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. The methodology weighs 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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