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UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 5005

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?

National picture across 9 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$31,229 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$31,229Median year-4 earnings

$34,896Average institution net-price context

$17,170Median federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$31,229Median reported earnings · year 4

$20,612Average reported earnings · year 5

$17,170Median federal debt

10thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

9Reporting programs

8With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

The same field can produce a different equation.

Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.

CURRENT VIEW

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings: $31,229
Federal debt: $17,170
Reporting programs: 9

8 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $30,146
Federal debt: $12,000
Reporting programs: 9

7 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $40,073
Federal debt: $25,000
Reporting programs: 282

259 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $52,713
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 42

42 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

Where the middle half of programs lands

Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.

Median

25th percentile$28,809National median$31,22975th percentile$32,842

8 programs report year‑4 earnings.

DECISION CHECK

What to compare before choosing a program

The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.

$32,84275th-percentile year-4 earnings among reporting programs

$17,170Median federal debt across programs that report it

0Programs with earnings in the top quarter and debt at or below the median

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Portland Actors Conservatory$35,889 2Circle in the Square Theatre School$32,905 3National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts$32,842 4American Musical and Dramatic Academy$31,701 5American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York$30,757 6New York Film Academy$28,809 7Chattanooga State Community College$26,274 8Neighborhood Playhouse School of the TheaterNot available

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1121 · 11 crosswalk linksActorsSOC 27-2011 · 7 crosswalk linksProducers and DirectorsSOC 27-2012 · 5 crosswalk linksEntertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 27-2099 · 4 crosswalk linksChoreographersSOC 27-2032 · 2 crosswalk linksDancersSOC 27-2031 · 2 crosswalk linksWriters and AuthorsSOC 27-3043 · 2 crosswalk linksCostume AttendantsSOC 39-3092 · 1 crosswalk linksFashion DesignersSOC 27-1022 · 1 crosswalk linksMusic Directors and ComposersSOC 27-2041 · 1 crosswalk linksMusicians and SingersSOC 27-2042 · 1 crosswalk linksSet and Exhibit DesignersSOC 27-1027 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR DRAMA/THEATRE ARTS AND STAGECRAFT

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	Portland Actors ConservatoryUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Portland, OR	$35,889	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
2	Circle in the Square Theatre SchoolUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	New York, NY	$32,905	$20,000	Baseline needed	$28,089
3	National Conservatory of Dramatic ArtsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Washington, DC	$32,842	Not available	Baseline needed	Not available
4	American Musical and Dramatic AcademyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	New York, NY	$31,701	$12,000	Baseline needed	$41,416
5	American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New YorkUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	New York, NY	$30,757	$17,170	Baseline needed	$55,553
6	New York Film AcademyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Burbank, CA	$28,809	$9,500	Baseline needed	$39,011
7	Chattanooga State Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Chattanooga, TN	$26,274	Not available	Baseline needed	$5,283
8	Neighborhood Playhouse School of the TheaterUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	New York City, NY	Not available	$17,500	Baseline needed	$40,023
9	American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los AngelesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	,	$30,757	$17,170	Baseline needed	Not available

This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.