2027 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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general dance schools.
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2027 Best Value General Dance Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general dance degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Dance Schools
For return on investment in general dance, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $19,137. Early-career general dance graduates make about $66,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general dance, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. General Dance graduates carry a median of $19,061 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Set against $19,061 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Wayne State University one of the best values for general dance. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. General Dance graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career general dance graduates make about $23,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned it the #4 place for general dance. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. General Dance graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $20,625. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee one of the best values for general dance. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $26,000. General Dance graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $25,456 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Western Michigan University landed the #6 spot for general dance value this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general dance program here. 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 Wisconsin Madison placed #7 among the best values for general dance. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the general dance program here. General Dance graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general dance schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. General Dance graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $14,831. That is a strong return on a $20,542 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for general dance. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. General Dance graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $21,167. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for general dance. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for general dance graduates is $24,546. General Dance graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #11 position for value in general dance this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the general dance program here. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #12 spot for general dance value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general dance program here. 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.
Hope College landed the #13 spot for general dance value this year. Located in the city of Holland, Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,484 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,334 to complete the general dance program here. Early-career general dance graduates make about $23,050. Set against $26,334 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Butler University placed #14 among the best values for general dance. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $47,560. Students borrow a median of $25,351 to complete the general dance program here. Soon after graduation, general dance degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 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.