Which state pays theatre bachelor's graduates the most?

Texas, where the median program pays its graduates $25,050 in their first year, the highest of 15 state rankings. Indiana is next, at $23,748.

Which theatre bachelor's program pays the most?

Saint Mary's College of California in California reports the highest first-year pay of the 255 programs ranked here, $38,160. Its median federal debt is $27,304.

How much debt do theatre bachelor's graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $25,000 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 115% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Theatre (Bachelor's) Programs in the US

257 programs report first-year pay
15 state rankings
Bachelor's in Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median theatre bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $20,815 in their first year and $34,512 five years after. Texas has the highest state median ($25,050), and New Jersey the lowest ($17,570). The median program leaves its graduates with $25,000 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$20,815Across 257 programs

Median pay after 5 years$34,512Across 213 programs

Median federal debt$25,000Across 235 programs

Debt-to-earnings115%Across 221 programs

All 255 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaMoraga, CA · private nonprofit	$38,160	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,304	72%
2	Notre DameNotre Dame, IN · private nonprofit	$37,531	Not adjusted	$62,555	$19,000	51%
3	Virginia TechBlacksburg, VA · public	$36,557	Not adjusted	$35,675	$24,637	67%
4	University of South DakotaVermillion, SD · public	$33,852	Not adjusted	$28,318	Not reported	Not reported
5	UT AustinAustin, TX · public	$33,261	$34,270	Not reported	$26,000	78%
6	Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock, PA · public	$33,169	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
7	Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA · private nonprofit	$32,967	Not adjusted	$26,137	$25,000	76%
8	CU BoulderBoulder, CO · public	$32,142	Not adjusted	$25,072	Not reported	Not reported
9	Stephen F. AustinNacogdoches, TX · public	$29,945	$30,853	$43,334	$26,000	87%
10	Dean CollegeFranklin, MA · private nonprofit	$29,639	Not adjusted	$29,006	$27,000	91%
11	Manhattan School of MusicNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$29,400	$27,242	Not reported	$27,000	92%
12	Illinois StateNormal, IL · public	$28,958	$28,970	$39,893	$24,246	84%
13	Texas TechLubbock, TX · public	$28,933	$29,810	Not reported	$26,500	92%
14	Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver, CO · public	$28,901	Not adjusted	$34,879	$28,281	98%
15	Carthage CollegeKenosha, WI · private nonprofit	$28,727	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
16	Gustavus Adolphus CollegeSaint Peter, MN · private nonprofit	$28,601	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
17	UNTDenton, TX · public	$28,236	$29,092	$40,282	$25,000	89%
18	Colorado StateFort Collins, CO · public	$28,172	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
19	Penn StateUniversity Park, PA · public	$27,886	Not adjusted	$33,750	$27,000	97%
20	Southern Utah UniversityCedar City, UT · public	$27,335	Not adjusted	$48,419	$19,284	71%
21	University of the Incarnate WordSan Antonio, TX · private nonprofit	$27,295	$28,123	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
22	University of Southern IndianaEvansville, IN · public	$27,010	Not adjusted	$23,461	$20,937	78%
23	Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL · public	$27,004	Not adjusted	$35,096	$23,500	87%
24	Missouri Western StateSaint Joseph, MO · public	$26,929	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
25	University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK · public	$26,753	Not adjusted	$28,352	$21,000	78%
26	University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN · public	$26,751	$27,125	$35,394	$27,000	101%
27	UABBirmingham, AL · public	$26,670	$30,026	Not reported	$25,250	95%
28	UT ArlingtonArlington, TX · public	$26,474	$27,277	Not reported	$27,000	102%
29	UNC Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC · public	$26,457	$28,048	Not reported	$15,613	59%
30	University of WyomingLaramie, WY · public	$26,053	Not adjusted	Not reported	$21,500	83%
31	University of ArizonaTucson, AZ · public	$26,048	$25,873	$29,220	$23,725	91%
32	Texas StateSan Marcos, TX · public	$26,045	$26,835	$40,459	$21,500	83%
33	Cal State Dominguez HillsCarson, CA · public	$25,920	$23,410	Not reported	$13,164	51%
34	University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY · public	$25,810	Not adjusted	$37,364	$26,637	103%
35	Pacific Lutheran UniversityTacoma, WA · private nonprofit	$25,754	Not adjusted	Not reported	$24,125	94%
36	University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR · public	$25,499	Not adjusted	$34,120	Not reported	Not reported
37	Portland StatePortland, OR · public	$25,352	$24,528	$42,373	$39,773	157%
38	UW-ParksideKenosha, WI · public	$25,306	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	107%
39	ASUTempe, AZ · public	$25,301	$25,131	$33,590	$19,606	77%
40	University of OregonEugene, OR · public	$25,264	Not adjusted	$41,344	Not reported	Not reported
41	Lindenwood UniversitySaint Charles, MO · private nonprofit	$25,083	Not adjusted	$37,528	$27,000	108%
42	University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · public	$25,070	Not adjusted	$35,509	$25,980	104%
43	Hunter CollegeNew York, NY · public	$25,059	$23,220	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
44	Texas A&M-Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, TX · public	$25,050	$25,810	$36,799	$22,658	90%
45	West Texas A&M UniversityCanyon, TX · public	$25,036	$25,795	$40,814	$22,328	89%
46	Youngstown StateYoungstown, OH · public	$24,933	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
47	Oklahoma StateStillwater, OK · public	$24,871	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
48	University of New HampshireDurham, NH · public	$24,830	Not adjusted	$31,491	$27,000	109%
49	RutgersNew Brunswick, NJ · public	$24,770	$22,765	Not reported	$23,000	93%
50	University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, CO · public	$24,761	$24,028	$31,299	$24,000	97%
51	USFTampa, FL · public	$24,732	$23,916	$35,949	$26,849	109%
52	Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA · public	$24,674	$23,057	$32,946	$24,752	100%
53	Minnesota State MankatoMankato, MN · public	$24,671	$25,016	$27,720	$24,853	101%
54	Chapman UniversityOrange, CA · private nonprofit	$24,644	$22,258	$44,595	$22,500	91%
55	Kent StateKent, OH · public	$24,565	$26,478	$30,381	$26,000	106%
56	Rhode Island CollegeProvidence, RI · public	$24,526	Not adjusted	$37,031	$24,523	100%
57	UW-WhitewaterWhitewater, WI · public	$24,412	$25,944	$43,748	$29,776	122%
58	Elon UniversityElon, NC · private nonprofit	$24,345	Not adjusted	$43,297	Not reported	Not reported
59	JMUHarrisonburg, VA · public	$24,306	$24,041	$30,339	$18,500	76%
60	Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA · public	$24,258	$22,668	$32,409	$20,500	85%
61	Western Connecticut StateDanbury, CT · public	$24,150	$23,309	$28,374	$27,000	112%
62	Millikin UniversityDecatur, IL · private nonprofit	$24,013	$24,023	$35,442	$27,000	112%
63	American UniversityWashington, DC · private nonprofit	$23,979	Not adjusted	$46,621	$24,989	104%
64	Ohio StateColumbus, OH · public	$23,920	$25,783	$38,039	$25,250	106%
65	Utah Valley UniversityOrem, UT · public	$23,896	Not adjusted	$40,910	$16,510	69%
66	University of West FloridaPensacola, FL · public	$23,852	Not adjusted	$32,625	Not reported	Not reported
67	SMUDallas, TX · private nonprofit	$23,831	$24,554	$34,577	$24,000	101%
68	Ball StateMuncie, IN · public	$23,748	$25,445	$32,171	$24,984	105%
69	UCFOrlando, FL · public	$23,708	$22,925	$34,631	$21,585	91%
70	Rollins CollegeWinter Park, FL · private nonprofit	$23,664	$22,883	$29,650	Not reported	Not reported
71	Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityLincoln, NE · private nonprofit	$23,649	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	114%
72	Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL · public	$23,517	$23,527	$38,201	$27,000	115%
73	Nazareth UniversityRochester, NY · private nonprofit	$23,511	$21,785	$24,533	$27,000	115%
74	University of EvansvilleEvansville, IN · private nonprofit	$23,407	Not adjusted	Not reported	$23,727	101%
75	Utah StateLogan, UT · public	$23,341	Not adjusted	$39,901	$15,601	67%
76	Suffolk UniversityBoston, MA · private nonprofit	$23,189	$21,927	Not reported	$27,000	116%
77	Point Park UniversityPittsburgh, PA · private nonprofit	$23,147	Not adjusted	$27,333	$27,000	117%
78	Flagler CollegeSaint Augustine, FL · private nonprofit	$23,099	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
79	Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ · public	$23,043	$22,888	$49,036	$21,966	95%
80	San Francisco StateSan Francisco, CA · public	$23,004	$20,777	$31,222	$16,250	71%
81	Sacramento StateSacramento, CA · public	$23,000	$20,773	$34,162	$16,221	71%
82	George MasonFairfax, VA · public	$22,984	$22,733	Not reported	$27,000	117%
83	Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY · public	$22,884	$25,382	Not reported	$21,821	95%
84	SUNY College at PotsdamPotsdam, NY · public	$22,873	$21,194	$39,609	$26,208	115%
85	University of WashingtonSeattle, WA · public	$22,778	Not adjusted	$44,955	$15,638	69%
86	California Institute of the ArtsValencia, CA · private nonprofit	$22,673	$20,478	$35,299	$27,000	119%
87	UC BerkeleyBerkeley, CA · public	$22,610	$20,421	Not reported	$15,112	67%
88	Plymouth StatePlymouth, NH · public	$22,489	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	120%
89	VCURichmond, VA · public	$22,447	$22,202	$29,450	$21,875	97%
90	Miami UniversityOxford, OH · public	$22,434	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
91	University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV · public	$22,429	$22,434	$38,242	$19,657	88%
92	Missouri StateSpringfield, MO · public	$22,369	$24,631	$37,897	$25,250	113%
93	Florida Southern CollegeLakeland, FL · private nonprofit	$22,336	$21,599	Not reported	$27,000	121%
94	University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA · public	$22,289	$25,397	$41,807	$24,875	112%
95	University of IowaIowa City, IA · public	$22,225	Not adjusted	$42,847	$26,622	120%
96	UIUCChampaign, IL · public	$22,159	$22,168	$38,862	$20,500	93%
97	DePaul UniversityChicago, IL · private nonprofit	$22,021	$22,030	$33,700	$26,348	120%
98	Bowling Green StateBowling Green, OH · public	$21,900	Not adjusted	$31,649	$25,250	115%
99	Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA · private nonprofit	$21,869	$19,752	$46,410	$23,250	106%
100	Sam Houston StateHuntsville, TX · public	$21,858	$22,521	$42,548	$22,250	102%
101	Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee, NC · public	$21,824	$23,137	$35,165	$26,000	119%
102	SUNY New PaltzNew Paltz, NY · public	$21,800	$20,200	$23,543	$23,453	108%
103	Anderson University (South Carolina)Anderson, SC · private nonprofit	$21,767	Not adjusted	Not reported	$25,581	118%
104	GCUPhoenix, AZ · private nonprofit	$21,760	Not adjusted	$30,913	$26,000	119%
105	University of ToledoToledo, OH · public	$21,685	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
106	College of CharlestonCharleston, SC · public	$21,645	$23,088	$39,880	$26,943	124%
107	UC Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA · public	$21,638	$19,543	$35,394	$19,500	90%
108	University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE · public	$21,627	$24,003	$42,511	$23,250	108%
109	Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI · public	$21,585	Not adjusted	$27,085	$26,950	125%
110	Kennesaw StateKennesaw, GA · public	$21,556	$22,386	$28,021	$25,500	118%
111	Boston UniversityBoston, MA · private nonprofit	$21,508	Not adjusted	$35,979	$26,958	125%
112	University of New OrleansNew Orleans, LA · public	$21,504	$24,379	$35,929	$21,987	102%
113	USCLos Angeles, CA · private nonprofit	$21,473	$19,394	$30,649	$12,000	56%
114	East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC · public	$21,295	$22,576	Not reported	$27,000	127%
115	Seton Hill UniversityGreensburg, PA · private nonprofit	$21,239	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	127%
116	University of North Carolina School of the ArtsWinston Salem, NC · public	$21,229	Not adjusted	$32,642	$24,592	116%
117	TCUFort Worth, TX · private nonprofit	$21,221	Not adjusted	$36,422	$27,000	127%
118	University of TennesseeKnoxville, TN · public	$21,189	$23,064	$35,606	Not reported	Not reported
119	Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand Junction, CO · public	$21,173	Not adjusted	$32,745	Not reported	Not reported
120	BYUProvo, UT · private nonprofit	$21,047	$21,289	$37,754	$22,904	109%
121	Roosevelt UniversityChicago, IL · private nonprofit	$21,001	$21,010	$15,396	$26,000	124%
122	NC A&TGreensboro, NC · public	$20,996	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,000	124%
123	Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · private nonprofit	$20,988	$19,448	$41,457	$27,000	129%
124	University of KentuckyLexington, KY · public	$20,937	Not adjusted	$35,087	$27,000	129%
125	NYUNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$20,916	$19,381	$31,599	$21,762	104%
126	UW-Stevens PointStevens Point, WI · public	$20,903	Not adjusted	$32,607	$26,000	124%
127	Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL · public	$20,899	Not adjusted	Not reported	$23,141	111%
128	Indiana University of PennsylvaniaIndiana, PA · public	$20,818	Not adjusted	$23,042	$27,000	130%
129	IU BloomingtonBloomington, IN · public	$20,815	$22,303	$35,778	$22,000	106%
130	Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco, CA · private for-profit	$20,798	$18,784	$19,276	$31,000	149%
131	University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · public	$20,762	Not adjusted	Not reported	$19,399	93%
132	University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT · public	$20,701	$20,939	Not reported	$20,316	98%
133	Oklahoma City UniversityOklahoma City, OK · private nonprofit	$20,696	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	130%
134	Southern Oregon UniversityAshland, OR · public	$20,668	$19,996	Not reported	$21,750	105%
135	Radford UniversityRadford, VA · public	$20,666	$20,440	$30,677	$25,000	121%
136	Brooklyn CollegeBrooklyn, NY · public	$20,645	$19,130	$39,051	Not reported	Not reported
137	Winthrop UniversityRock Hill, SC · public	$20,600	$21,974	$26,117	$27,000	131%
138	San Diego StateSan Diego, CA · public	$20,538	$18,549	$28,363	$15,000	73%
139	SCADSavannah, GA · private nonprofit	$20,532	Not adjusted	$33,955	$27,000	132%
140	UC Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA · public	$20,503	$18,518	Not reported	$16,852	82%
141	UC IrvineIrvine, CA · public	$20,461	$18,480	$27,561	$17,862	87%
142	UW-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · public	$20,455	$21,739	$35,227	$27,000	132%
143	SUNY FredoniaFredonia, NY · public	$20,453	$18,952	$35,448	$27,000	132%
144	UNC WilmingtonWilmington, NC · public	$20,450	$21,680	$28,208	$25,000	122%
145	North Central CollegeNaperville, IL · private nonprofit	$20,416	$20,425	$34,084	$21,000	103%
146	Augustana CollegeRock Island, IL · private nonprofit	$20,326	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,955	133%
147	LSUBaton Rouge, LA · public	$20,290	$23,003	$38,130	$21,500	106%
148	Baylor UniversityWaco, TX · private nonprofit	$20,267	$20,882	$36,480	$24,130	119%
149	Susquehanna UniversitySelinsgrove, PA · private nonprofit	$20,259	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	133%
150	Appalachian StateBoone, NC · public	$20,256	$21,474	$28,084	$24,755	122%
151	Full Sail UniversityWinter Park, FL · private for-profit	$20,226	$19,558	$30,344	$20,500	101%
152	FIUMiami, FL · public	$20,113	$19,449	$30,242	$17,500	87%
153	University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN · public	$19,982	$20,261	$33,470	$23,250	116%
154	CU DenverDenver, CO · public	$19,966	$19,375	$48,103	$27,500	138%
155	Belhaven UniversityJackson, MS · private nonprofit	$19,931	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
156	Viterbo UniversityLa Crosse, WI · private nonprofit	$19,930	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,906	135%
157	Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights, KY · public	$19,929	$22,104	$30,382	$21,175	106%
158	University of IdahoMoscow, ID · public	$19,880	Not adjusted	$24,363	$21,287	107%
159	Towson UniversityTowson, MD · public	$19,871	$18,932	$34,983	$17,500	88%
160	SUNY OswegoOswego, NY · public	$19,673	$18,229	Not reported	$27,000	137%
160	UCLALos Angeles, CA · public	$19,673	$17,768	$28,993	$16,970	86%
162	Drake UniversityDes Moines, IA · private nonprofit	$19,613	Not adjusted	$36,216	Not reported	Not reported
163	Buffalo StateBuffalo, NY · public	$19,608	$18,169	$30,530	$21,810	111%
164	Marymount Manhattan CollegeNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$19,562	$18,126	$32,284	$27,000	138%
165	Emerson CollegeBoston, MA · private nonprofit	$19,560	Not adjusted	$33,947	$25,000	128%
166	University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI · public	$19,551	$19,115	Not reported	$21,500	110%
167	University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL · public	$19,543	Not adjusted	$27,525	$26,750	137%
168	University of Northwestern-St PaulSaint Paul, MN · private nonprofit	$19,541	$19,814	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
169	Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington, IL · private nonprofit	$19,490	$19,498	$30,435	$27,000	139%
170	UC DavisDavis, CA · public	$19,398	$17,520	$42,690	$13,000	67%
171	Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY · private nonprofit	$19,339	$17,920	$38,959	$20,000	103%
172	Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · public	$19,269	$19,748	$37,446	$26,000	135%
173	Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL · private nonprofit	$19,245	Not adjusted	$47,619	$17,000	88%
174	Cal State Long BeachLong Beach, CA · public	$19,231	$17,369	$26,450	$15,000	78%
175	Ohio Northern UniversityAda, OH · private nonprofit	$19,167	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	141%
176	University of MemphisMemphis, TN · public	$19,055	Not adjusted	$25,644	$22,875	120%
177	Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY · public	$18,920	$17,531	Not reported	$20,500	108%
178	Columbus StateColumbus, GA · public	$18,769	$19,492	$28,203	$25,802	137%
179	Wayne StateDetroit, MI · public	$18,750	$19,487	$33,158	$24,847	133%
180	SUNY OneontaOneonta, NY · public	$18,740	$17,365	Not reported	$23,144	124%
181	Piedmont UniversityDemorest, GA · private nonprofit	$18,680	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
182	Long Island UniversityBrookville, NY · private nonprofit	$18,671	$17,301	Not reported	$26,000	139%
183	Wright StateDayton, OH · public	$18,666	$20,120	$32,244	$26,000	139%
184	Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ · public	$18,558	$17,056	$22,828	$25,000	135%
185	Montclair StateMontclair, NJ · public	$18,474	$16,979	$35,768	$25,022	135%
186	FAUBoca Raton, FL · public	$18,452	$17,843	Not reported	$23,625	128%
187	Florida StateTallahassee, FL · public	$18,431	$17,823	$32,238	$21,000	114%
188	University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, MO · public	$18,403	Not adjusted	$41,635	Not reported	Not reported
189	Ouachita Baptist UniversityArkadelphia, AR · private nonprofit	$18,350	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,000	142%
190	Ithaca CollegeIthaca, NY · private nonprofit	$18,243	Not adjusted	$38,424	$26,000	143%
191	Cal State FullertonFullerton, CA · public	$18,182	$16,422	$34,683	$17,500	96%
192	New York Film AcademyBurbank, CA · private for-profit	$18,181	$16,421	Not reported	$27,000	149%
193	UNC GreensboroGreensboro, NC · public	$18,154	$19,246	$30,986	$25,914	143%
194	SUNY Purchase CollegePurchase, NY · public	$18,090	$16,762	$42,645	$26,000	144%
195	Fresno StateFresno, CA · public	$18,082	$16,331	$30,004	$12,456	69%
196	UNC CharlotteCharlotte, NC · public	$18,052	$19,138	Not reported	$26,000	144%
197	UC San DiegoLa Jolla, CA · public	$18,026	$16,281	$39,424	$14,650	81%
198	UConnStorrs, CT · public	$18,002	Not adjusted	$29,845	$25,414	141%
199	Alabama StateMontgomery, AL · public	$17,997	Not adjusted	Not reported	$31,000	172%
200	University of MarylandCollege Park, MD · public	$17,985	$17,135	$38,656	$20,681	115%
201	New Mexico StateLas Cruces, NM · public	$17,980	$19,499	$35,769	$17,009	95%
202	University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM · public	$17,964	$19,481	$28,412	$23,905	133%
203	Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MI · public	$17,962	Not adjusted	$37,001	$28,000	156%
204	Columbia College ChicagoChicago, IL · private nonprofit	$17,929	$17,937	$33,746	$26,977	150%
205	Middle Tennessee StateMurfreesboro, TN · public	$17,860	$19,441	Not reported	$19,000	106%
206	Shenandoah UniversityWinchester, VA · private nonprofit	$17,818	Not adjusted	$29,435	$27,000	152%
207	University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI · public	$17,577	Not adjusted	$29,295	$20,798	118%
208	CSUNNorthridge, CA · public	$17,524	$15,827	$33,395	$17,863	102%
209	Wagner CollegeStaten Island, NY · private nonprofit	$17,478	$16,195	$28,580	$27,000	154%
210	American Musical and Dramatic AcademyNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$17,410	Not adjusted	$22,591	$27,000	155%
211	UMBCBaltimore, MD · public	$17,381	$16,560	Not reported	$18,812	108%
212	DeSales UniversityCenter Valley, PA · private nonprofit	$17,377	$17,809	$34,759	$27,000	155%
213	Michigan StateEast Lansing, MI · public	$17,328	$18,009	$34,587	$22,250	128%
214	University of Central OklahomaEdmond, OK · public	$17,272	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
215	Arcadia UniversityGlenside, PA · private nonprofit	$17,203	Not adjusted	$18,385	$27,000	157%
216	University of TampaTampa, FL · private nonprofit	$17,196	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,000	151%
217	Muhlenberg CollegeAllentown, PA · private nonprofit	$17,150	Not adjusted	$37,505	$27,000	157%
218	The New SchoolNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$17,113	$15,857	$24,596	$25,000	146%
219	East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaEast Stroudsburg, PA · public	$17,055	$17,479	Not reported	$26,000	152%
220	Molloy UniversityRockville Centre, NY · private nonprofit	$17,050	$15,799	Not reported	$27,000	158%
221	Northwestern State University of LouisianaNatchitoches, LA · public	$16,973	$19,242	$33,722	$22,250	131%
222	Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, IL · public	$16,892	Not adjusted	$46,366	$26,010	154%
223	Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, SC · public	$16,862	Not adjusted	$30,787	$27,000	160%
224	UTRGVEdinburg, TX · public	$16,706	$17,213	$28,318	$16,001	96%
225	FAMUTallahassee, FL · public	$16,695	Not adjusted	Not reported	$21,959	132%
226	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan CampusTeaneck, NJ · private nonprofit	$16,666	$15,317	$35,262	$25,139	151%
227	Pace UniversityNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$16,659	$15,436	$27,786	$27,000	162%
228	Cal State LALos Angeles, CA · public	$16,645	$15,033	Not reported	$11,000	66%
229	BYU-IdahoRexburg, ID · private nonprofit	$16,587	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
230	Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, GA · public	$16,586	$17,225	$20,376	$27,000	163%
231	Bennington CollegeBennington, VT · private nonprofit	$16,579	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,445	160%
232	University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL · private nonprofit	$16,561	Not adjusted	Not reported	$19,000	115%
233	Stephens CollegeColumbia, MO · private nonprofit	$16,476	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	164%
234	Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY · private nonprofit	$16,417	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
235	University of FloridaGainesville, FL · public	$16,318	$15,779	$35,412	$15,142	93%
236	University of Puget SoundTacoma, WA · private nonprofit	$16,310	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
237	Baldwin Wallace UniversityBerea, OH · private nonprofit	$16,055	$17,305	$30,751	$27,000	168%
238	Saint Edward's UniversityAustin, TX · private nonprofit	$15,925	$16,408	$44,767	$26,000	163%
239	Ohio UniversityAthens, OH · public	$15,602	Not adjusted	$35,540	$22,750	146%
240	Oakland UniversityRochester Hills, MI · public	$15,579	$16,192	$31,830	$26,678	171%
241	Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY · private nonprofit	$15,474	$14,338	$28,590	$26,000	168%
242	Ramapo College of New JerseyMahwah, NJ · public	$15,372	$14,128	$38,493	$20,620	134%
243	City College of New YorkNew York, NY · public	$15,098	$13,990	$25,104	$17,739	117%
244	UICChicago, IL · public	$14,938	$14,944	$33,133	$21,238	142%
245	Adelphi UniversityGarden City, NY · private nonprofit	$14,867	$13,776	$30,228	$24,125	162%
246	City TechBrooklyn, NY · public	$14,799	$13,713	$33,461	$6,000	41%
247	Fordham UniversityBronx, NY · private nonprofit	$14,133	Not adjusted	$43,045	$27,000	191%
248	Drew UniversityMadison, NJ · private nonprofit	$13,710	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	197%
249	University of West GeorgiaCarrollton, GA · public	$13,357	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
250	Webster UniversitySaint Louis, MO · private nonprofit	$13,182	Not adjusted	$36,285	$26,000	197%
251	University of Southern MainePortland, ME · public	$12,960	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
252	Otterbein UniversityWesterville, OH · private nonprofit	$12,546	Not adjusted	$37,633	$26,822	214%
253	Oberlin CollegeOberlin, OH · private nonprofit	$12,441	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
254	Queens CollegeQueens, NY · public	$11,604	$10,752	$47,566	Not reported	Not reported
255	UPR Rio PiedrasSan Juan, PR · public	$7,652	Not adjusted	$17,659	Not reported	Not reported

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 151 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 104, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

36 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked. 2 more programs report pay but aren't listed, because College Scorecard's school file doesn't name their schools. The national medians above still count them.

Theatre (Bachelor's) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's theatre bachelor's programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	Texas	15	$25,050	$24,565
2	Indiana	5	$23,748	$22,000
3	Utah	5	$23,341	$19,284
4	Virginia	6	$22,716	$25,000
5	Wisconsin	6	$22,658	$27,000
6	Ohio	13	$21,685	$26,000
7	North Carolina	10	$21,113	$25,914
8	Illinois	14	$20,709	$26,000
9	Pennsylvania	12	$20,539	$27,000
10	California	23	$20,538	$17,235
11	Florida	14	$20,170	$21,585
12	Georgia	7	$18,769	$25,651
13	New York	31	$18,740	$26,000
14	Michigan	6	$17,770	$26,678
15	New Jersey	6	$17,570	$25,022

Programs in 30 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

City Tech, NY$6,000
Cal State LA, CA$11,000
USC, CA$12,000
Fresno State, CA$12,456
UC Davis, CA$13,000
Cal State Dominguez Hills, CA$13,164
UC San Diego, CA$14,650
San Diego State, CA$15,000
Cal State Long Beach, CA$15,000
UC Berkeley, CA$15,112

Lowest debt for the pay

City Tech, NY41%
Notre Dame, IN51%
Cal State Dominguez Hills, CA51%
USC, CA56%
UNC Chapel Hill, NC59%
Cal State LA, CA66%
UC Berkeley, CA67%
Utah State, UT67%
UC Davis, CA67%
Virginia Tech, VA67%

Only the 156 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

Careers this field leads to

These are the jobs that the federal crosswalk from fields of study to occupations links to theatre, largest first. Pay is the median across the US and all experience levels.

Producers and Directors

$90,360

Median pay in the US. 143,120 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, with about 12,100 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.

Bottom 10%: $45,780Top 10%: $198,540

Writers and Authors

$76,910

Median pay in the US. 47,940 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to stay about the same in number from 2025 to 2035, with about 11,900 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $44,310Top 10%: $139,870

Common questions

The median theatre bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $20,815 in their first year and $34,512 five years after.

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024