Best Value Dance Colleges in California

California's dance programs reveal striking cost differences, with public institutions like Cal State Fullerton charging just $5,646 net while private schools like Chapman University reach $47,527. UC Riverside graduates earn the highest salaries at $35,600, more than double the $15,182 starting point at California Institute of the Arts. The state's entertainment industry provides unique opportunities for dance graduates, from Hollywood studios to Silicon Valley tech companies incorporating movement and performance into their productions. Public universities dominate the value equation, with seven of the top ten most affordable programs coming from the Cal State and UC systems. Even UC Irvine, with its selective 21% acceptance rate, maintains a reasonable $12,840 net cost while delivering strong employment outcomes. The earnings range spans $20,418 from lowest to highest, reflecting the varied career paths available in California's entertainment capital.

Programs

$5,646 – $50,218

Net Price Range

$22,567

Avg. Program Earnings

77.3%

Avg. Graduation Rate

25 Dance Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, California	$5,646	$20,140	$7,073	69.2%	66.7%
2	University of California-Riverside Riverside, California	$13,707	$35,600	$14,170	76.6%	68.7%
3	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840	$28,236	$14,237	86.0%	21.2%
4	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, California	$8,931	$16,786	$7,008	69.9%	40.0%
5	Chapman University Orange, California	$47,527	$19,455	$62,784	80.4%	72.5%
6	California Institute of the Arts Valencia, California	$47,183	$15,182	$56,724	64.2%	24.8%
7	University of Southern California Los Angeles, California	$31,927		$68,237	92.0%	12.0%
8	California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, California	$5,918		$7,675	54.7%	91.1%
9	Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, California	$31,198		$56,134	69.0%	87.9%
10	Scripps College Claremont, California	$38,802		$63,434	87.1%	27.9%
11	San Jose State University San Jose, California	$13,741		$7,992	64.7%	76.7%
12	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$12,882		$7,424	50.1%	94.2%
13	San Diego State University San Diego, California	$16,174		$8,290	78.3%	39.3%
14	Pomona College Claremont, California	$19,424		$62,326	93.2%	7.0%
15	Pitzer College Claremont, California	$31,663		$62,692	83.2%	18.4%
16	Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, California	$45,723		$58,974	79.8%	41.3%
17	Harvey Mudd College Claremont, California	$32,492		$66,255	93.8%	13.4%
18	Dominican University of California San Rafael, California	$50,218		$50,666	76.3%	93.2%
19	Claremont McKenna College Claremont, California	$27,384		$64,150	95.2%	10.4%
20	University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California	$13,825		$14,965	85.3%	25.9%
21	University of California-San Diego La Jolla, California	$11,750		$15,265	87.6%	23.7%
22	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	$14,013		$13,747	92.7%	8.6%
23	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$14,979		$14,850	92.9%	11.3%
24	California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, California	$10,512		$7,602	55.8%	93.2%
25	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480		$6,980	54.8%	95.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes UC Riverside stand out for dance value in California?

UC Riverside graduates earn $35,600 annually, the highest among all programs surveyed, while maintaining a reasonable $13,707 net cost. The campus accepts 69% of applicants and achieves a solid 77% graduation rate. This combination of strong earnings potential and accessible admission makes it strong value for California dance students.

How do California's public and private dance programs compare on cost?

Public programs average around $10,000-15,000 in net costs, while private institutions range from $31,000-47,000. Cal State Fullerton offers the lowest net cost at $5,646, compared to Chapman University's $47,527. Despite higher costs, some private schools like USC achieve 92% graduation rates, significantly above most public alternatives.

Does California Institute of the Arts justify its high tuition for dance students?

CalArts charges $47,183 net with a selective 25% acceptance rate but graduates earn just $15,182 annually, the lowest among all programs. The 64% graduation rate also falls below many public alternatives. Students should carefully weigh the school's artistic reputation against its financial return on investment.

Where can dance students find the most competitive admission rates in California?

Pomona College accepts only 7% of applicants, making it the most selective dance program in the state. UC Irvine follows at 21% acceptance, while CalArts admits 25%. These highly selective programs contrast sharply with accessible options like CSU San Bernardino, which accepts 91% of applicants.

What graduation rates can dance students expect at California schools?

Graduation rates vary dramatically, from CSU San Bernardino's 55% to Pomona College's 93%. USC leads major universities at 92%, while UC Irvine achieves 86%. Most Cal State programs hover around 65-70%, reflecting the different student populations and support systems across California's higher education market.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.