The Ailey School

405 W 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
Top-Ranked (2026-27): View Rankings
  • Founded in 1958, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is the largest modern dance company in the United States. Based in New York City, the company was founded by Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Alvin Ailey, a noted choreographer and dancer.

School Highlights

The Ailey School serves 94 students (100% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 4:1 is lower than the state community college average of 24:1.
Minority enrollment is 86% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the state average of 63%.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Enrollment: 94 students
  • Acceptance Rate: 32%
  • Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
  • Minority enrollment: 86%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

The Ailey School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in New York for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

The teacher population of 23 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The Ailey School
(NY) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or nondegree-granting)
Associate's Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Private not-for-profit
Private not-for-profit
Year Founded
1969
Total Faculty
23 staff
43 staff
School Calendar

Student Body

The student population of The Ailey School has stayed relatively flat over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 4:1 has stayed the same over five years.
The The Ailey School diversity score of 0.74 is less than the state average of 0.76. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
94 students
953 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
4:1
24:1
# Full-Time Students
94 students
528 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
94 students
717 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
94 students
511 students
% Asian
2%
8%
% Hispanic
5%
23%
% Black
33%
19%
% White
14%
37%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
9%
3%
% Non Resident races
35%
3%
% Unknown races
1%
7%
Diversity Score
0.74
0.76
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
86%
35%

Tuition & Financial Aid

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
43%
89%
Median Debt for Graduates
$12,000
$12,000
Median Debt for Dropouts
$4,341
$5,149
Acceptance Rate
32%
80%
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate of The Ailey School?
The acceptance rate of The Ailey School is 32%, which is lower than the state average of 80%. The Ailey School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top community colleges in New York with low acceptance rates.
What is The Ailey School's ranking?
The Ailey School ranks among the top 20% of community college in New York for: Lowest acceptance rates and Diversity in US community colleges.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Enrollment: 94 students
  • Acceptance Rate: 32%
  • Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
  • Minority enrollment: 86%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

The average community college acceptance rate in New York County, NY is 54%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

New York County, NY community colleges have a diversity score of 0.68, which is lower than the national average of 0.74. The most diverse community college in New York County, NY is Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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