Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Offered at 1,235 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 85 | $21,712 | $32,929 | $15,500 |
| Associate | 197 | $21,945 | $29,087 | $12,000 |
| Bachelor's | 775 | $29,607 | $43,013 | $23,250 |
| Master's | 134 | $42,359 | $54,307 | — |
| Doctoral | 33 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 11 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
One year after finishing, a typical certificate program in this field reports median earnings of $21,712, versus $29,607 for a typical bachelor's program.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circle in the Square Theatre School | NY | $18,760 | $40,085 | $20,000 |
| 2 | National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts | DC | — | $39,850 | — |
| 3 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | OH | $34,174 | — | $15,500 |
| 4 | University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College | OH | $34,174 | — | $15,500 |
| 5 | New York Film Academy | CA | $20,659 | $32,929 | $9,500 |
| 6 | American Musical and Dramatic Academy | NY | $23,923 | $31,865 | $12,000 |
| 7 | American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York | NY | $21,712 | $26,171 | $17,500 |
| 8 | Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater | NY | $19,231 | — | $16,000 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY LaGuardia Community College | NY | $23,931 | $36,992 | — |
| 2 | American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York | NY | $21,945 | $30,204 | $12,000 |
| 3 | KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts | TX | — | $29,087 | $20,000 |
| 4 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College | MN | — | $28,325 | — |
| 5 | New York Film Academy | CA | — | $26,757 | — |
| 6 | American Musical and Dramatic Academy | NY | $19,092 | — | $12,000 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Notre Dame | IN | $62,573 | $77,004 | $19,250 |
| 2 | Pepperdine University | CA | — | $67,409 | $18,350 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $43,297 | $63,236 | $9,647 |
| 4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | VA | — | $60,956 | $20,707 |
| 5 | Brown University | RI | — | $60,630 | — |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | — | $60,298 | — |
| 7 | The University of Texas at Austin | TX | $42,332 | $59,937 | $22,491 |
| 8 | University of Georgia | GA | $42,647 | $58,962 | $24,484 |
| 9 | Miami University-Oxford | OH | — | $58,362 | — |
| 10 | Occidental College | CA | — | $58,006 | — |
| 11 | University of Connecticut | CT | $23,929 | $57,307 | $15,214 |
| 12 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus | CT | $23,929 | $57,307 | $15,214 |
| 13 | University of Connecticut-Avery Point | CT | $23,929 | $57,307 | $15,214 |
| 14 | University of Connecticut-Stamford | CT | $23,929 | $57,307 | $15,214 |
| 15 | University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus | CT | $23,929 | $57,307 | $15,214 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles | CA | $43,526 | $76,469 | — |
| 2 | National University | CA | — | $74,402 | — |
| 3 | University of Idaho | ID | $48,037 | $64,349 | — |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | IL | $42,557 | $63,259 | — |
| 5 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | AZ | — | $63,196 | — |
| 6 | Carnegie Mellon University | PA | $57,438 | $62,514 | — |
| 7 | University of California-San Diego | CA | $40,283 | $61,926 | — |
| 8 | New York University | NY | $35,338 | $60,269 | — |
| 9 | California Institute of the Arts | CA | $39,953 | $58,561 | — |
| 10 | East Texas A&M University | TX | $53,201 | $56,951 | — |
| 11 | Regent University | VA | $42,359 | $56,575 | — |
| 12 | Florida State University | FL | $45,486 | $55,937 | — |
| 13 | Ohio University-Main Campus | OH | $39,821 | $55,924 | — |
| 14 | The University of Texas at Austin | TX | $49,539 | $55,648 | — |
| 15 | University of Houston | TX | — | $55,159 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do drama/theatre arts and stagecraft graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in drama/theatre arts and stagecraft reports median earnings of $29,607. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
