Best colleges for Dance in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Marymount Manhattan College, Fordham University and Pace University are the top bachelor's Dance programs in New York by graduate earnings. Marymount Manhattan College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $21,880, College Scorecard. New York University, SUNY at Purchase College and Marymount Manhattan College award the most Dance degrees in New York: 65, 38 and 34 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 New York colleges offer Dance and award 420 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 9 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 | Marymount Manhattan College New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $21,880 | 34 | 49% | $34,258 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Fordham University Bronx Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $20,381 | 29 | 82% | $38,931 | $26,000 |
| 3 | Pace University New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $19,614 | 34 | 60% | $29,994 | $27,000 |
| 4 | American Musical and Dramatic Academy New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $15,881 | 28 | 72% | $40,932 | $27,000 |
| 5 | The Juilliard School New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $14,220 | 22 | 93% | $29,763 | $27,000 |
| 6 | SUNY at Purchase College Purchase Public · Bachelor's degree | $12,039 | 38 | 63% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,843 | 8 | 51% | — | $11,994 |
| 8 | SUNY College at Potsdam Potsdam Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,094 | 2 | 45% | — | — |
| 9 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $17,110 | 15 | 75% | — | $20,500 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ailey School New York Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $13,598 | 42 | 84% | $29,991 | $19,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Dance degrees in New York
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 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 65 | Not reported |
| 2 | SUNY at Purchase College Purchase Public | 38 | $12,039 |
| 3 | Marymount Manhattan College New York Private not-for-profit | 34 | $21,880 |
| 4 | Pace University New York Private not-for-profit | 34 | $19,614 |
| 5 | Fordham University Bronx Private not-for-profit | 29 | $20,381 |
| 6 | American Musical and Dramatic Academy New York Private not-for-profit | 28 | $15,881 |
| 7 | The Juilliard School New York Private not-for-profit | 22 | $14,220 |
| 8 | University at Buffalo Buffalo Public | 15 | $17,110 |
| 9 | CUNY Hunter College New York Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 10 | SUNY Brockport Brockport Public | 14 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 18 New York colleges offering Dance
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ailey School | New York | Private not-for-profit | 42 |
| Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Hofstra University | Hempstead | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Adelphi University | Garden City | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| CUNY Lehman College | Bronx | Public | 8 |
| The New School | New York | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| CUNY Queensborough Community College | Bayside | Public | 6 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Barnard College | New York | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Nazareth University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Long Island University | Brookville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Manhattanville University | Purchase | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Sarah Lawrence College | Bronxville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Columbia University | New York | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | Geneva | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| SUNY at Fredonia | Fredonia | Public | 2 |
| SUNY College at Potsdam | Potsdam | Public | 2 |
| Simon's Rock at Bard College | Barrytown | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Dancers (SOC 27-2031).
Top skills
What Dancers earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Dance programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Dance degrees?+
New York University (65 graduates a year), SUNY at Purchase College (38 graduates a year) and Marymount Manhattan College (34 graduates a year) award the most Dance degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 New York colleges offer Dance.
What is the best college for Dance in New York?+
By graduate earnings, Marymount Manhattan College leads among bachelor's Dance programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $21,880, College Scorecard. Fordham University and Pace University follow. By degrees awarded, New York University is the largest, with 65 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Dance program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Marymount Manhattan College tops the list at $21,880. 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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