Dance
Quick Facts: Dance Training
Where it's offered
Dance programs are offered at 1 schools across 1 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $13,598/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
There are no Department of Labor registered apprenticeship pathways currently mapped to Dance, but related trades may have programs — check apprenticeship.gov directly.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 1 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 22/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Dance Graduates Do
Your career often begins on the studio floor, spending hours in rehearsal honing technique and learning choreography for live performances. You'll work alongside other dancers, preparing for everything from touring productions to music videos. As your expertise grows, you might transition into choreography yourself, using your body and keen spatial awareness to map out new movements for a company or production. Another common path is teaching at the college level, where you'll lead classes, demonstrate complex techniques at the barre, and mentor aspiring student artists in a university setting.
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Early income often comes from performance contracts, but paths like choreography and postsecondary teaching offer growing demand and a route to a stable salary. This is deeply physical, creative work that requires a human presence in the studio and on stage, something that can't be automated or done remotely. With years of experience, you can progress from a company dancer to a principal, or build a reputation as an independent choreographer. Ultimately, you could become the artistic director of a company or a tenured professor shaping a university's dance program.
You may also want to compare Dance with Film & Photography and Visual & Performing Arts on earnings and ROI.
Find Dance Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Dance is offered at 1 schools across 1 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.
Top Dance Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Dance programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
1 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ailey School New York, NY |
26 23–27 |
Highest Earning Dance Programs
Schools where Dance graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| The Ailey School | $13,598/yr | 26 |
Best ROI for Dance
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Dance.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ailey School | 8.6x | $13,598/yr | 26 |
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Dance degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.