Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: Northern Arizona University vs Saint Mary's College of California

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
10.6x
$50,608 tuition
2.1x
$224,536 tuition
Out-of-State
4.6x
$115,600 tuition
2.1x
$224,536 tuition
$535,645 10-yr earnings · Public
$474,341 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit

Head-to-Head

Northern Arizona University Saint Mary's College of California
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.6x 2.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 2.1x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $50,608 $224,536
Year 1 Earnings $23,043 $38,160
10-Year Earnings $536K $474K
Median Debt $21,966 $27,000
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 11.4 months 8.5 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 31/100 28/100
Acceptance Rate 91.0% 88.6%

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

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates.

Northern Arizona University Saint Mary's College of California
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $50,608 $224,536
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $115,600 $224,536
10-Year Projected Earnings $536K $474K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.6x 2.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 2.1x

"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 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Northern Arizona University Saint Mary's College of California
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $539K $536K $494K $473K $474K $445K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 10.7x 10.6x 9.8x 2.1x 2.1x 2.0x
DegreeWorth Score 32 31 26 29 28 20

For the full AI analysis of Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft career paths, see the Northern Arizona University or Saint Mary's College of California program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$173,928
Northern Arizona University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$15,117/yr
Saint Mary's College of California grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
10.6x / 2.1x
Out-of-state: 4.6x / 2.1x

Career Paths

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft 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%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

More Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Comparisons

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: Northern Arizona University or Saint Mary's College of California?
Northern Arizona University scores 31/100 while Saint Mary's College of California scores 28/100. Northern Arizona 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 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft?
Northern Arizona University has an in-state earnings multiple of 10.6x vs Saint Mary's College of California's 2.1x. That means Northern Arizona University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $173,928 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do Northern Arizona University and Saint Mary's College of California compare on Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $23,043 at Northern Arizona University vs $38,160 at Saint Mary's College of California. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $535,645 vs $474,341 — a difference of $61,304.
How much does Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $50,608 at Northern Arizona University and $224,536 at Saint Mary's College of California. Median debt at graduation is $21,966 vs $27,000. Both programs lead to the same Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft 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.