Best colleges for Dance in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State University - Long Beach, University of California-Irvine and Chapman University are the top bachelor's Dance programs in California by graduate earnings. California State University - Long Beach leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,686, College Scorecard. California State University - Long Beach, University of California-Irvine and Chapman University award the most Dance degrees in California: 51, 49 and 33 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 65 California colleges offer Dance and award 541 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Dance program is a part of the Visual and Performing Arts field, focusing on the study and practice of various dance forms. It caters to individuals passionate about movement, rhythm, and expression through dance, offering…
Top 7 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,686 | 51 | 69% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,112 | 49 | 87% | — | $20,080 |
| 3 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $21,275 | 33 | 82% | $42,965 | $23,624 |
| 4 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $19,787 | 32 | 93% | — | $19,309 |
| 5 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,653 | 15 | 92% | $26,873 | $15,875 |
| 6 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,087 | 13 | 70% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $19,107 | 9 | 79% | $36,488 | $24,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Dance degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 51 | $30,686 |
| 2 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 49 | $28,112 |
| 3 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit | 33 | $21,275 |
| 4 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 32 | $19,787 |
| 5 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 6 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 7 | California Institute of the Arts Valencia Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 16 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 15 | $25,653 |
| 10 | Moorpark College Moorpark Public | 14 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 55 California colleges offering Dance
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Dancers (SOC 27-2031).
Top skills
What Dancers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Dance programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Dance degrees?+
California State University - Long Beach (51 graduates a year), University of California-Irvine (49 graduates a year) and Chapman University (33 graduates a year) award the most Dance degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 65 California colleges offer Dance.
What is the best college for Dance in California?+
By graduate earnings, California State University - Long Beach leads among bachelor's Dance programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,686, College Scorecard. University of California-Irvine and Chapman University follow. By degrees awarded, California State University - Long Beach is the largest, with 51 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Dance program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State University - Long Beach tops the list at $30,686. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Dance program?+
The Dance program is a part of the Visual and Performing Arts field, focusing on the study and practice of various dance forms. It caters to individuals passionate about movement, rhythm, and expression through dance, offering…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, critical thinking, monitoring, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Dancers?+
The national job outlook is about +4.5% growth with around 1,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A No formal educational credential is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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