2026 Best Value Dance Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Dance](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/dance/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for dance students.
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2026 Best Value Dance Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in dance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Dance Schools
Leading the list is University Of Missouri Kansas City, our #1 best value for dance in the The Plains States Region. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the dance program here. Dance graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in dance will find it at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #2. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Typical student debt for dance graduates is $19,500. Dance graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $31,597 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Lindenwood University one of the best values for dance. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Students borrow a median of $28,663 to complete the dance program here. Early-career dance graduates make about $48,197. Set against $28,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Iowa earned it the #4 place for dance. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Dance graduates carry a median of $24,375 in student loans. Dance graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $30,353 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,375 median debt. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
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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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
