Compare 29 Dance. programs in the South. Average earnings: $27,151.
With top graduates earning $49,423, Dance stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $22K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Southern Methodist University's Dance program leads with graduates earning $49,423, closely followed by Texas State University at $49,264. The average across all 29 programs is $27,151, demonstrating how specific programs can dramatically outperform field-wide expectations through focused training and outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Southern Methodist graduates borrow $19,500 and face just a 10% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. For families, Texas Woman's University leads with a 19.1% family burden, proving that the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $49,423
Strong outcomes with 61% acceptance
10.0% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
19.1% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $49,423 | 12 | $19,500 | Good | $40,025 | High | |
| #2 | Texas State UniversityPublic | $49,264 | 49 | $21,000 | Good | $22,500 | Challenging |
| #3 | Texas Woman's UniversityPublic | $47,513 | 23 | $19,218 | Good | $13,471 | Challenging |
| #4 | Radford UniversityPublic | $38,259 | 13 | $24,000 | Challenging | $22,158 | High |
| #5 | $33,340 | 16 | $23,409 | High | $18,080 | High | |
| #6 | Goucher CollegePrivate | $32,925 | 13 | $26,000 | High | $39,769 | High |
| #7 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $30,771 | 12 | $20,500 | High | $46,609 | High |
| #8 | $29,685 | 16 | $21,500 | High | $31,393 | High | |
| #9 | $28,960 | 18 | $19,250 | High | $23,211 | High | |
| #10 | Oklahoma City UniversityPrivate | $28,681 | 25 | $20,835 | High | $44,054 | High |
| #11 | $28,612 | 32 | $22,858 | High | $14,638 | High | |
| #12 | Belhaven UniversityPrivate | $27,995 | 18 | $26,333 | High | $12,000 | High |
| #13 | University Of FloridaPublic | $27,822 | 28 | $15,000 | High | $18,837 | High |
| #14 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | $27,439 | 13 | $21,500 | High | $54,925 | High |
| #15 | $27,085 | 22 | $21,983 | High | $19,433 | High | |
| #16 | $26,896 | 13 | $20,500 | High | $26,632 | High | |
| #17 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $26,353 | 8 | $22,750 | High | $19,710 | High |
| #18 | $24,035 | 16 | $21,500 | High | $23,585 | High | |
| #19 | Towson UniversityPublic | $21,964 | 16 | $18,718 | High | $28,489 | High |
| #20 | $21,890 | 33 | $23,870 | High | $44,645 | High | |
| #21 | Florida State UniversityPublic | $20,140 | 19 | $18,000 | High | $17,000 | High |
| #22 | Shenandoah UniversityPrivate | $19,455 | 8 | $25,000 | High | $46,387 | High |
| #23 | $18,888 | 24 | $23,833 | High | $19,000 | High | |
| #24 | $18,716 | 43 | $22,750 | High | $48,666 | High | |
| #25 | $18,101 | 20 | $17,988 | High | $15,541 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
