Danceat University of South Carolina-Columbia
Graduates earn $33,291/yr in their first year — about 48.0% above the national Dance average. Base-case 10-year earnings $454K; scenarios range from $428K to $453K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina's Dance program stands out, and your strong earnings potential reflects its reputation and practical career preparation. This isn't just a performance degree; the curriculum likely emphasizes pedagogy, choreography, and arts administration, preparing you for diverse roles beyond the stage. Many graduates leverage their skills in K-12 education, private studio instruction, or even pursuing advanced degrees to become university dance faculty, which aligns with the higher earning potentials.
The program's strong regional connections within South Carolina's burgeoning arts and education sectors create robust recruiting pipelines. You'll find graduates choreographing for local theaters, teaching at community arts centers, or running their own studios across the Southeast. This blend of artistic rigor and professional versatility helps you carve out sustainable careers. A key piece of advice: actively seek out internships or assistant teaching roles early on to build your professional network and discover which career path truly resonates with your skills and passions.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of South Carolina's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Dance
How University of South Carolina stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of South Carolina
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of South Carolina, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Dance offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Dance trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Dance at University of South Carolina
How does University of South Carolina-Columbia's Dance program score?
This program scores 28/100 — on the lower end for Dance. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.