2026 Best Value General Dance Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[General Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/general-dance/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general dance education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 47 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general dance schools.
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2026 Best Value General Dance Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general dance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Dance Schools
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #1 spot for value among general dance schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,061 to complete the general dance program here. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. That is a strong return on a $19,061 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Wayne State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general dance, landing the #2 spot this year. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general dance program here. General Dance graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $23,626 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general dance schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete the general dance program here. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $14,831. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general dance, landing the #4 spot this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,518 to complete the general dance program here. Early-career general dance graduates make about $28,838. Set against $24,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned it the #5 place for general dance. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $25,456. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Valley State University placed #6 among the best values for general dance. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Students borrow a median of $26,378 to complete the general dance program here. Early-career general dance graduates make about $50,179. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #7 for value in general dance this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. General Dance graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. General Dance graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $21,167 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Western Michigan University landed the #8 spot for general dance value this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $27,000. General Dance graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $21,540 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #9 for value in general dance this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $23,530. Early-career general dance graduates make about $58,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago came in at #10 for value in general dance this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,088. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $27,000. Early-career general dance graduates make about $29,160. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Butler University placed #11 among the best values for general dance. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $47,560. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $25,351. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. Set against $25,351 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
