Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 282 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$310,142 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
—Modeled economic break-even
−119%Modeled 10-year ROI
$40,073Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$40,073Median reported earnings · year 4
$34,453Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,000Median federal debt
3thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
282Reporting programs
259With year-4 earnings
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.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $31,229
- Federal debt
- $17,170
- Reporting programs
- 9
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $30,146
- Federal debt
- $12,000
- Reporting programs
- 9
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $40,073
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 282
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,713
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 42
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$36,251National median$40,07375th percentile$43,916
259 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Notre Dame$64,8802Brandeis University$58,6763University of California, Davis$56,8234University of California, Berkeley$55,5555Drake University$54,9506Miami University-Oxford$54,2157University of Cincinnati-Main Campus$54,0008Florida Southern College$51,9259University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown$51,77510University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus$51,775Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
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
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Notre DameBachelor's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | $64,880 | $19,000 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Brandeis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waltham, MA | $58,676 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $56,823 | $13,000 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $55,555 | $15,112 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Drake UniversityBachelor's Degree | Des Moines, IA | $54,950 | Not available | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $54,215 | Not available | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $54,000 | $25,980 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Florida Southern CollegeBachelor's Degree | Lakeland, FL | $51,925 | $27,000 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownBachelor's Degree | Johnstown, PA | $51,775 | Not available | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $51,775 | Not available | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Chapman UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orange, CA | $51,611 | $22,500 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Western Connecticut State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Danbury, CT | $50,955 | $27,000 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Pepperdine UniversityBachelor's Degree | Malibu, CA | $50,594 | $19,500 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Rhode Island CollegeBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $50,335 | $24,523 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $49,802 | $20,316 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $49,323 | $20,500 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $49,316 | $17,000 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Loyola Marymount UniversityBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $49,135 | $23,250 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $48,781 | $26,000 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of North Carolina School of the ArtsBachelor's Degree | Winston Salem, NC | $48,664 | $24,592 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Manhattanville UniversityBachelor's Degree | Purchase, NY | $48,629 | Not available | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $48,502 | $21,500 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | University of Central MissouriBachelor's Degree | Warrensburg, MO | $48,179 | Not available | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Saint Edward's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $47,974 | $26,000 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Binghamton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Vestal, NY | $47,945 | $20,500 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $47,878 | $27,500 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | California State University, SacramentoBachelor's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $47,676 | $16,221 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusBachelor's Degree | Norman, OK | $47,587 | $21,000 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | West Texas A&M UniversityBachelor's Degree | Canyon, TX | $47,175 | $22,328 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | University of Puget SoundBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $46,791 | Not available | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Radford UniversityBachelor's Degree | Radford, VA | $46,725 | $25,000 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | North Central CollegeBachelor's Degree | Naperville, IL | $46,605 | $21,000 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Ithaca CollegeBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $46,563 | $26,000 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Fordham UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $46,317 | $27,000 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | University of Northern ColoradoBachelor's Degree | Greeley, CO | $46,089 | $24,000 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $45,888 | $20,798 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | University of EvansvilleBachelor's Degree | Evansville, IN | $45,838 | $23,727 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Baylor UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waco, TX | $45,706 | $24,130 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $45,692 | $39,773 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | University at BuffaloBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $45,677 | $26,637 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $45,671 | $26,849 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $45,656 | $27,000 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $45,504 | $27,000 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $45,420 | $27,000 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | James Madison UniversityBachelor's Degree | Harrisonburg, VA | $45,225 | $18,500 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | St Olaf CollegeBachelor's Degree | Northfield, MN | $45,023 | $21,000 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | College of CharlestonBachelor's Degree | Charleston, SC | $44,991 | $26,943 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Appalachian State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boone, NC | $44,986 | $24,755 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksBachelor's Degree | Reading, PA | $44,913 | $27,000 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $44,913 | $27,000 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Full Sail UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $44,878 | $20,500 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $44,848 | $16,250 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $44,825 | $23,250 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Emerson CollegeBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $44,760 | $25,000 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Western Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $44,694 | $26,950 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | University of MontevalloBachelor's Degree | Montevallo, AL | $44,624 | Not available | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Ramapo College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Mahwah, NJ | $44,565 | $20,620 | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $44,471 | $23,725 | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Pacific Lutheran UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $44,459 | $24,125 | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Hofstra UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hempstead, NY | $44,388 | $26,000 | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Florida State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $44,115 | $21,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $44,106 | $16,852 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | DePaul UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $44,095 | $26,348 | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $44,045 | $27,000 | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $43,957 | $21,875 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Central Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mount Pleasant, MI | $43,916 | $28,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Long Island UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brookville, NY | $43,904 | $26,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Suffolk UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $43,553 | $27,000 | -105% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Lindenwood UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Charles, MO | $43,329 | $27,000 | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's Degree | Northridge, CA | $43,240 | $17,863 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Ball State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Muncie, IN | $43,082 | $24,984 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $43,055 | $23,250 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $43,046 | $19,399 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | University of Central FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $42,954 | $21,585 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $42,870 | $28,281 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $42,820 | $22,250 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Ohio University-Eastern CampusBachelor's Degree | Saint Clairsville, OH | $42,796 | $22,750 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusBachelor's Degree | Chillicothe, OH | $42,796 | $22,750 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Ohio University-Southern CampusBachelor's Degree | Ironton, OH | $42,796 | $22,750 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Ohio University-Lancaster CampusBachelor's Degree | Lancaster, OH | $42,796 | $22,750 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Ohio University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Athens, OH | $42,796 | $22,750 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Ohio University-Zanesville CampusBachelor's Degree | Zanesville, OH | $42,796 | $22,750 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Rutgers University-CamdenBachelor's Degree | Camden, NJ | $42,712 | $23,000 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $42,712 | $23,000 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Rutgers University-NewarkBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $42,712 | $23,000 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | DeSales UniversityBachelor's Degree | Center Valley, PA | $42,571 | $27,000 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Texas Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Worth, TX | $42,483 | $27,000 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | California State University, FullertonBachelor's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $42,455 | $17,500 | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | University of Minnesota-DuluthBachelor's Degree | Duluth, MN | $42,438 | $27,000 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $42,362 | $25,000 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $42,348 | $21,762 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $42,301 | Not available | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Loyola University ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $42,195 | $22,625 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Muhlenberg CollegeBachelor's Degree | Allentown, PA | $42,092 | $27,000 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | CUNY New York City College of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $41,880 | $6,000 | -116% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $41,812 | $15,000 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Texas A&M University-Corpus ChristiBachelor's Degree | Corpus Christi, TX | $41,773 | $22,658 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $41,745 | $19,606 | -114% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $41,742 | $20,681 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | University of the Incarnate WordBachelor's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $41,720 | Not available | -112% | Negative payoff |
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.