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

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
In-State
2.1x
$224,536 tuition
9.3x
$47,408 tuition
Out-of-State
2.1x
$224,536 tuition
4.5x
$97,804 tuition
$474,341 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit
$439,136 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

Saint Mary's College of California Texas Tech University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 2.1x 9.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.1x 4.5x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $224,536 $47,408
Year 1 Earnings $38,160 $28,933
10-Year Earnings $474K $439K
Median Debt $27,000 $23,250
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 8.5 months 9.6 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 28/100 32/100
Acceptance Rate 88.6% 70.9%

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.

Saint Mary's College of California Texas Tech University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $224,536 $47,408
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $224,536 $97,804
10-Year Projected Earnings $474K $439K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 2.1x 9.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.1x 4.5x

"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.

Saint Mary's College of California Texas Tech University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $473K $474K $445K $435K $439K $417K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 2.1x 2.1x 2.0x 9.2x 9.3x 8.8x
DegreeWorth Score 29 28 20 33 32 26

For the full AI analysis of Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft career paths, see the Saint Mary's College of California or Texas Tech University 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)
$177,128
Texas Tech University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$9,227/yr
Saint Mary's College of California grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
2.1x / 9.3x
Out-of-state: 2.1x / 4.5x

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 →

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Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: Saint Mary's College of California or Texas Tech University?
Saint Mary's College of California scores 28/100 while Texas Tech University scores 32/100. Texas Tech 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?
Saint Mary's College of California has an in-state earnings multiple of 2.1x vs Texas Tech University's 9.3x. That means Texas Tech University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $177,128 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do Saint Mary's College of California and Texas Tech University compare on Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $38,160 at Saint Mary's College of California vs $28,933 at Texas Tech University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $474,341 vs $439,136 — a difference of $35,205.
How much does Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $224,536 at Saint Mary's College of California and $47,408 at Texas Tech University. Median debt at graduation is $27,000 vs $23,250. 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.