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Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft bachelor's degree outcomes at Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · Federal field 5005

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$3,931 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 67.0% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −127% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price−$271,560

$12,000Annual price−$319,560

$24,000Annual price−$367,560

$36,000Annual price−$415,560

$41,000Current college-wide context−$435,560

$48,000Annual price−$463,560

$60,000Annual price−$511,560

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+45%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$23,831 → $34,577

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

23Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

27Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$40,892

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$24,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$35,844

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$254/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$40,892Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$85,606Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE63.3%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE84.3%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$23,831Year 1

$35,844Year 4

$34,577Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

8.5% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$2,987

Estimated loan payment$254

27borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$35,844 vs. $39,775

$3,931 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$77,560 median wageTX estimate · 6,730 jobs · 25-1121+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeActorsNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 2,160 jobs · 27-2011+0.0% projected U.S. growth · 6.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Some college, no degreeProducers and Directors$71,710 median wageTX estimate · 6,610 jobs · 27-2012+4.0% projected U.S. growth · 12.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEntertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All OtherNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 16,550 jobs · 27-2099+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4.5k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialWriters and Authors$69,990 median wageTX estimate · 2,320 jobs · 27-3043-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChoreographers$46,460 median wageTX estimate · 380 jobs · 27-2032+3.1% projected U.S. growth · 0.6k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentDancersNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 190 jobs · 27-2031+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 1.6k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialMusic Directors and Composers$65,570 median wageTX estimate · 480 jobs · 27-2041+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 4.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSet and Exhibit Designers$56,930 median wageTX estimate · 210 jobs · 27-1027+1.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFashion Designers$40,040 median wageTX estimate · 1,850 jobs · 27-1022+0.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCostume Attendants$28,440 median wageTX estimate · 550 jobs · 39-3092+5.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentMusicians and SingersNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 1,430 jobs · 27-2042+0.3% projected U.S. growth · 17.4k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credential

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