Theater & Drama: Brigham Young University vs Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
10.4x
$25,984 tuition
5.8x
$61,912 tuition
Out-of-State
10.4x
$25,984 tuition
2.5x
$146,776 tuition
$21,047/yr starting · Private nonprofit
$36,557/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

Brigham Young University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.4x 5.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.4x 2.5x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $61,912
Year 1 Earnings $21,047 $36,557
10-Year Earnings $270K $360K
Median Debt $22,330 $25,188
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 12.7 months 8.3 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 47/100 48/100
Acceptance Rate 69.2% 57.0%

Both programs have moderate AI automation risk (37% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Theater & Drama graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Theater & Drama graduates.

Brigham Young University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $61,912
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $25,984 $146,776
10-Year Projected Earnings $270K $360K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.4x 5.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.4x 2.5x
5-Year Salary Growth +79% +-2%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Theater & Drama (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Brigham Young University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $443K $270K $171K $419K $360K $296K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 17.0x 10.4x 6.6x 6.8x 5.8x 4.8x
DegreeWorth Score 51 47 41 49 48 46

For the full AI analysis of Theater & Drama career paths, see the Brigham Young University or Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Theater & Drama graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$35,928
Brigham Young University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$15,510/yr
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
10.4x / 5.8x
Out-of-state: 10.4x / 2.5x

Career Paths

Theater & Drama graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Producers and directors $83,480 12,800 +4.9% 42%
Fashion designers $80,690 2,300 +2.0% 39%
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190 9,000 +1.7% 44%
Writers and authors $72,270 13,400 +3.6% 89%
Set and exhibit designers $66,280 2,500 +2.3% 39%
Music directors and composers $63,670 4,300 -0.3% 71%
Choreographers $55,600 700 +6.1% 27%
Costume attendants $54,810 1,800 +5.9% 26%

Explore Each Program

More Theater & Drama Comparisons

Theater & Drama Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Theater & Drama: Brigham Young University or Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
Brigham Young University scores 47/100 while Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores 48/100. Brigham Young University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Theater & Drama?
Brigham Young University has an in-state earnings multiple of 10.4x vs Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's 5.8x. That means Brigham Young University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $35,928 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do Brigham Young University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University compare on Theater & Drama earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $21,047 at Brigham Young University vs $36,557 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $269,947 vs $360,351 — a difference of $90,404.
How much does Theater & Drama cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $25,984 at Brigham Young University and $61,912 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Median debt at graduation is $22,330 vs $25,188. Both programs lead to the same Theater & Drama career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.