Best Theater & Drama Schools by Graduate Salary & ROI (2026)
These are the top schools offering Theater & Drama, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Theater & Drama graduate earns $21,147/yr across 270 schools.
What do Theater & Drama graduates do? See career paths and salaries →Why a Small Utah School Beats the Big Names
Southern Utah University’s #1 rank isn’t an accident; it's a direct result of its integration with the Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival. Students don’t just learn theory; they gain professional credits working alongside seasoned actors, directors, and designers on a national stage. This hands-on experience, combined with an extremely low 4-year tuition of $27,080, delivers an outstanding 16.9x ROI and a direct pipeline into the professional theatre world, a feat few big-name schools can match.
The Public School Advantage: Why Prestige Can Be a Trap
The most striking pattern is the dominance of public universities, which make up 18 of the top 20 programs. This isn't a knock on private schools, but a reality check for arts majors. With graduates earning a modest average, the high tuition of private schools like Saint Mary's (#6, $224k tuition, 0.7x ROI) or Notre Dame (#20, $250k tuition, 1.5x ROI) makes a positive financial return almost impossible. For this field, the smart money is on affordable, high-quality public programs that provide practical training without burying you in debt.
AI Won't Steal Your Job, But It Will Change Your Toolkit
The 38% AI risk score for this field doesn't mean robots are taking over stagecraft. It means AI is becoming a powerful assistant. For writers, generative AI will handle rough drafts, placing a premium on your ability to provide unique ideas and sophisticated edits. For designers, AI can generate initial concepts or optimize build plans, freeing you to focus on the physical craft. Your career durability will depend on mastering these tools to augment your creativity, not on fearing replacement.
Hotspots for the Arts: Why Utah and Texas Punch Above Their Weight
The data reveals clear geographic clusters, with Texas (3), Utah (2), and California (2) leading the top 20. This isn't random; it points to strong regional arts ecosystems. Utah's success is anchored by a world-class festival culture, providing immense practical experience. Texas's presence reflects its massive, well-funded public university system that prioritizes accessible, quality arts education. These states offer a powerful combination of top-tier training and industry connections right in your backyard.
Leading the field for Theater & Drama
The top four programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Full ranking of 270 programs below.
All Theater & Drama Programs Ranked
Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT · Public
|
39
32–39
|
$27,335/yr | 16.9x |
| 2 |
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, PA · Public
|
34
25–34
|
$33,169/yr | 6.9x |
| 3 |
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Public
|
34
25–34
|
$33,261/yr | 6.1x |
| 4 |
Stephen F Austin State University
Nacogdoches, TX · Public
|
32
24–32
|
$29,945/yr | 9.2x |
| 5 |
Utah Valley University
Orem, UT · Public
|
32
27–33
|
$23,896/yr | 15.3x |
| 6 |
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CA · Private nonprofit
|
31
22–31
|
$38,160/yr | 0.7x |
| 7 |
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · Public
|
31
27–32
|
$21,824/yr | 18.4x |
| 8 |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Public
|
31
21–31
|
$36,557/yr | 4.8x |
| 9 |
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI · Public
|
31
26–32
|
$24,412/yr | 12.3x |
| 10 |
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA · Public
|
30
24–30
|
$25,920/yr | 8.2x |
| 11 |
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL · Public
|
30
24–30
|
$24,732/yr | 13.0x |
| 12 |
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY · Public
|
30
29–31
|
$11,604/yr | 14.8x |
| 13 |
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX · Public
|
30
23–30
|
$28,933/yr | 5.1x |
| 14 |
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY · Public
|
30
24–31
|
$26,053/yr | 8.4x |
| 15 |
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL · Public
|
29
23–30
|
$26,670/yr | 6.5x |
| 16 |
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ · Public
|
29
24–29
|
$23,043/yr | 8.7x |
| 17 |
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO · Public
|
29
26–30
|
$19,966/yr | 11.0x |
| 18 |
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO · Public
|
29
22–29
|
$28,172/yr | 4.5x |
| 19 |
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL · Public
|
29
24–29
|
$23,708/yr | 12.6x |
| 20 |
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit
|
29
20–29
|
$37,531/yr | 1.5x |
| 21 |
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, MO · Public
|
29
22–29
|
$26,929/yr | 5.9x |
| 22 |
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY · Public
|
29
23–29
|
$25,059/yr | 7.5x |
| 23 |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · Public
|
29
23–29
|
$26,457/yr | 6.4x |
| 24 |
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD · Public
|
29
21–30
|
$33,852/yr | 6.5x |
| 25 |
West Texas A & M University
Canyon, TX · Public
|
29
23–29
|
$25,036/yr | 10.2x |
| 26 |
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT · Private nonprofit
|
29
25–29
|
$21,047/yr | 13.5x |
| 27 |
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Kenosha, WI · Public
|
29
23–29
|
$25,306/yr | 7.1x |
| 28 |
University of West Florida
Pensacola, FL · Public
|
28
23–28
|
$23,852/yr | 11.8x |
| 29 |
University of North Texas
Denton, TX · Public
|
28
21–29
|
$28,236/yr | 8.0x |
| 30 |
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX · Public
|
28
23–28
|
$21,858/yr | 10.5x |
| 31 |
The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX · Public
|
28
22–28
|
$26,474/yr | 4.6x |
| 32 |
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO · Public
|
27
20–27
|
$28,901/yr | 7.1x |
| 33 |
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · Public
|
27
22–27
|
$22,289/yr | 9.7x |
| 34 |
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY · Public
|
27
24–28
|
$20,645/yr | 12.1x |
| 35 |
SUNY College at Potsdam
Potsdam, NY · Public
|
27
22–28
|
$22,873/yr | 10.4x |
| 36 |
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH · Public
|
27
21–27
|
$24,933/yr | 4.8x |
| 37 |
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus
Stillwater, OK · Public
|
27
21–28
|
$24,871/yr | 5.1x |
| 38 |
Portland State University
Portland, OR · Public
|
27
22–28
|
$25,352/yr | 8.4x |
| 39 |
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX · Public
|
27
21–27
|
$26,045/yr | 7.8x |
| 40 |
Utah State University
Logan, UT · Public
|
27
22–27
|
$23,341/yr | 9.8x |
| 41 |
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA · Public
|
26
21–26
|
$23,000/yr | 10.2x |
| 42 |
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL · Public
|
26
23–26
|
$18,452/yr | 8.5x |
| 43 |
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL · Public
|
26
23–27
|
$18,431/yr | 13.2x |
| 44 |
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · Public
|
26
23–26
|
$16,318/yr | 12.9x |
| 45 |
Illinois State University
Normal, IL · Public
|
26
19–27
|
$28,958/yr | 5.2x |
| 46 |
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public
|
26
22–26
|
$22,225/yr | 8.8x |
| 47 |
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE · Public
|
26
22–27
|
$21,627/yr | 9.5x |
| 48 |
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV · Public
|
26
21–26
|
$22,429/yr | 9.5x |
| 49 |
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY · Public
|
26
20–26
|
$25,810/yr | 7.7x |
| 50 |
SUNY at Purchase College
Purchase, NY · Public
|
26
23–27
|
$18,090/yr | 10.9x |
| 51 |
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public
|
26
22–26
|
$21,295/yr | 6.2x |
| 52 |
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC · Public
|
26
22–26
|
$20,996/yr | 6.8x |
| 53 |
Kent State University at Trumbull
Warren, OH · Public
|
26
20–26
|
$24,565/yr | 9.4x |
| 54 |
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Lima, OH · Public
|
26
21–27
|
$23,920/yr | 9.3x |
| 55 |
Ohio University-Eastern Campus
Saint Clairsville, OH · Public
|
26
24–26
|
$15,602/yr | 13.4x |
| 56 |
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
Chillicothe, OH · Public
|
26
24–26
|
$15,602/yr | 13.4x |
| 57 |
Ohio University-Southern Campus
Ironton, OH · Public
|
26
24–26
|
$15,602/yr | 13.4x |
| 58 |
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus
Lancaster, OH · Public
|
26
24–26
|
$15,602/yr | 13.4x |
| 59 |
Ohio University-Zanesville Campus
Zanesville, OH · Public
|
26
24–26
|
$15,602/yr | 13.4x |
| 60 |
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX · Public
|
26
20–26
|
$25,050/yr | 8.4x |
| 61 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · Public
|
26
21–27
|
$22,778/yr | 7.9x |
| 62 |
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR · Public
|
25
19–26
|
$25,499/yr | 7.8x |
| 63 |
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public
|
25
22–25
|
$18,182/yr | 11.3x |
| 64 |
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA · Public
|
25
20–25
|
$23,004/yr | 9.5x |
| 65 |
University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · Public
|
25
16–25
|
$32,142/yr | 2.8x |
| 66 |
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Rexburg, ID · Private nonprofit
|
25
22–25
|
$16,587/yr | 7.9x |
| 67 |
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Carbondale, IL · Public
|
25
18–25
|
$27,004/yr | 5.6x |
| 68 |
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY · Public
|
25
20–26
|
$22,884/yr | 4.0x |
| 69 |
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO · Public
|
25
22–25
|
$18,403/yr | 9.7x |
| 70 |
Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO · Public
|
25
21–26
|
$22,369/yr | 9.5x |
| 71 |
Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, NJ · Public
|
25
19–25
|
$24,770/yr | 2.7x |
| 72 |
Manhattan School of Music
New York, NY · Private nonprofit
|
25
17–25
|
$29,400/yr | 0.3x |
| 73 |
Carthage College
Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofit
|
25
17–25
|
$28,727/yr | 1.0x |
| 74 |
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA · Public
|
25
21–26
|
$21,556/yr | 11.1x |
| 75 |
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · Public
|
24
21–24
|
$17,524/yr | 10.8x |
| 76 |
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tallahassee, FL · Public
|
24
21–24
|
$16,695/yr | 6.2x |
| 77 |
Florida International University
Miami, FL · Public
|
24
21–25
|
$20,113/yr | 10.5x |
| 78 |
Columbus State University
Columbus, GA · Public
|
24
21–25
|
$18,769/yr | 11.3x |
| 79 |
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL · Public
|
24
21–24
|
$16,892/yr | 8.0x |
| 80 |
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA · Public
|
24
20–24
|
$21,504/yr | 8.8x |
| 81 |
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit
|
24
17–25
|
$28,601/yr | 0.3x |
| 82 |
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN · Public
|
24
18–25
|
$26,751/yr | 5.2x |
| 83 |
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ · Public
|
24
19–25
|
$24,770/yr | 2.6x |
| 84 |
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · Public
|
24
19–25
|
$24,770/yr | 2.6x |
| 85 |
State University of New York at Oswego
Oswego, NY · Public
|
24
20–24
|
$19,673/yr | 4.6x |
| 86 |
University of Toledo
Toledo, OH · Public
|
24
20–24
|
$21,685/yr | 3.4x |
| 87 |
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
Norman, OK · Public
|
24
18–25
|
$26,753/yr | 6.4x |
| 88 |
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR · Public
|
24
19–25
|
$25,264/yr | 5.6x |
| 89 |
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA · Private nonprofit
|
24
20–25
|
$20,259/yr | -0.1x |
| 90 |
Rhode Island College
Providence, RI · Public
|
24
19–25
|
$24,526/yr | 7.4x |
| 91 |
University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofit
|
24
17–24
|
$27,295/yr | 0.9x |
| 92 |
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT · Public
|
24
20–25
|
$20,701/yr | 4.6x |
| 93 |
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · Public
|
24
19–25
|
$22,984/yr | 3.2x |
| 94 |
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA · Public
|
24
19–25
|
$24,674/yr | 8.0x |
| 95 |
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public
|
24
19–24
|
$24,258/yr | 7.7x |
| 96 |
Auburn University
Auburn, AL · Public
|
23
19–24
|
$20,899/yr | 3.2x |
| 97 |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ · Public
|
23
18–24
|
$25,301/yr | 6.0x |
| 98 |
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
|
23
20–23
|
$16,645/yr | 5.1x |
| 99 |
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
|
23
19–24
|
$22,610/yr | 2.8x |
| 100 |
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO · Public
|
23
17–23
|
$24,761/yr | 5.5x |
| 101 |
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL · Private nonprofit
|
23
20–23
|
$16,561/yr | -0.3x |
| 102 |
University of Georgia
Athens, GA · Public
|
23
20–24
|
$20,762/yr | 3.6x |
| 103 |
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL · Public
|
23
18–24
|
$23,517/yr | 6.5x |
| 104 |
Ball State University
Muncie, IN · Public
|
23
18–23
|
$23,748/yr | 6.5x |
| 105 |
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, IN · Public
|
23
17–24
|
$27,010/yr | 4.8x |
| 106 |
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN · Public
|
23
17–23
|
$24,671/yr | 6.3x |
| 107 |
Plymouth State University
Plymouth, NH · Public
|
23
19–24
|
$22,489/yr | 2.9x |
| 108 |
New Mexico State University-Main Campus
Las Cruces, NM · Public
|
23
21–24
|
$17,980/yr | 10.0x |
| 109 |
CUNY New York City College of Technology
Brooklyn, NY · Public
|
23
20–23
|
$14,799/yr | 10.4x |
| 110 |
SUNY at Fredonia
Fredonia, NY · Public
|
23
20–24
|
$20,453/yr | 9.1x |
| 111 |
SUNY Oneonta
Oneonta, NY · Public
|
23
20–24
|
$18,740/yr | 4.3x |
| 112 |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Public
|
23
21–24
|
$18,052/yr | 5.3x |
| 113 |
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH · Public
|
23
18–24
|
$25,070/yr | 5.5x |
| 114 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, OH · Public
|
23
18–24
|
$23,920/yr | 6.4x |
| 115 |
Southern Oregon University
Ashland, OR · Public
|
23
19–24
|
$20,668/yr | 3.3x |
| 116 |
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC · Public
|
23
19–23
|
$21,645/yr | 6.7x |
| 117 |
Bennington College
Bennington, VT · Private nonprofit
|
23
20–23
|
$16,579/yr | -0.4x |
| 118 |
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ · Public
|
22
16–23
|
$26,048/yr | 4.4x |
| 119 |
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA · Public
|
22
20–23
|
$18,082/yr | 9.7x |
| 120 |
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public
|
22
18–22
|
$19,398/yr | 6.0x |
| 121 |
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · Public
|
22
18–22
|
$20,503/yr | 2.4x |
| 122 |
Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction, CO · Public
|
22
18–22
|
$21,173/yr | 7.4x |
| 123 |
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA · Public
|
22
20–22
|
$13,357/yr | 4.6x |
| 124 |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public
|
22
17–22
|
$22,159/yr | 5.1x |
| 125 |
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA · Public
|
22
18–22
|
$20,290/yr | 7.0x |
| 126 |
Drew University
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofit
|
22
20–22
|
$13,710/yr | -0.2x |
| 127 |
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY · Private nonprofit
|
22
20–23
|
$16,417/yr | -0.4x |
| 128 |
Binghamton University
Vestal, NY · Public
|
22
19–23
|
$18,920/yr | 3.6x |
| 129 |
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · Public
|
22
18–22
|
$20,256/yr | 8.3x |
| 130 |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC · Public
|
22
19–22
|
$18,154/yr | 9.2x |
| 131 |
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston Salem, NC · Public
|
22
18–23
|
$21,229/yr | 7.6x |
| 132 |
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · Public
|
22
19–23
|
$20,450/yr | 8.6x |
| 133 |
Kent State University at Kent
Kent, OH · Public
|
22
17–23
|
$24,565/yr | 4.9x |
| 134 |
Miami University-Oxford
Oxford, OH · Public
|
22
18–23
|
$22,434/yr | 2.1x |
| 135 |
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH · Private nonprofit
|
22
20–22
|
$12,441/yr | -0.5x |
| 136 |
University of Central Oklahoma
Edmond, OK · Public
|
22
20–23
|
$17,272/yr | 4.1x |
| 137 |
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit
|
22
13–22
|
$32,967/yr | 0.0x |
| 138 |
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public
|
22
19–23
|
$17,860/yr | 3.7x |
| 139 |
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · Public
|
22
16–22
|
$24,306/yr | 4.6x |
| 140 |
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit
|
22
16–23
|
$25,754/yr | 0.3x |
| 141 |
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit
|
22
20–23
|
$16,310/yr | -0.3x |
| 142 |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI · Public
|
22
18–23
|
$20,455/yr | 7.8x |
| 143 |
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI · Public
|
22
19–23
|
$20,903/yr | 8.2x |
| 144 |
Alabama State University
Montgomery, AL · Public
|
21
19–22
|
$17,997/yr | 3.0x |
| 145 |
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
|
21
18–22
|
$19,231/yr | 8.4x |
| 146 |
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · Public
|
21
17–21
|
$21,638/yr | 5.1x |
| 147 |
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public
|
21
18–22
|
$20,538/yr | 7.6x |
| 148 |
Western Connecticut State University
Danbury, CT · Public
|
21
16–22
|
$24,150/yr | 4.6x |
| 149 |
Flagler College
Saint Augustine, FL · Private nonprofit
|
21
16–22
|
$23,099/yr | 1.2x |
| 150 |
University of Evansville
Evansville, IN · Private nonprofit
|
21
16–21
|
$23,407/yr | 0.4x |
| 151 |
Indiana University-Bloomington
Bloomington, IN · Public
|
21
18–22
|
$20,815/yr | 6.6x |
| 152 |
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY · Public
|
21
17–21
|
$20,937/yr | 5.6x |
| 153 |
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches, LA · Public
|
21
19–22
|
$16,973/yr | 8.5x |
| 154 |
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD · Public
|
21
19–22
|
$17,985/yr | 7.4x |
| 155 |
Towson University
Towson, MD · Public
|
21
18–22
|
$19,871/yr | 6.7x |
| 156 |
Suffolk University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
|
21
16–21
|
$23,189/yr | 0.3x |
| 157 |
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO · Private nonprofit
|
21
16–22
|
$25,083/yr | 3.4x |
| 158 |
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Lincoln, NE · Private nonprofit
|
21
16–21
|
$23,649/yr | 0.4x |
| 159 |
SUNY Buffalo State University
Buffalo, NY · Public
|
21
18–22
|
$19,608/yr | 8.0x |
| 160 |
State University of New York at New Paltz
New Paltz, NY · Public
|
21
16–21
|
$21,800/yr | 5.9x |
| 161 |
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, PA · Public
|
21
18–21
|
$17,055/yr | 2.9x |
| 162 |
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · Public
|
21
17–21
|
$21,189/yr | 5.6x |
| 163 |
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Public
|
20
17–21
|
$18,026/yr | 5.5x |
| 164 |
Florida Southern College
Lakeland, FL · Private nonprofit
|
20
16–21
|
$22,336/yr | 0.3x |
| 165 |
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID · Public
|
20
16–20
|
$19,880/yr | 5.9x |
| 166 |
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY · Public
|
20
17–20
|
$19,929/yr | 6.0x |
| 167 |
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD · Public
|
20
18–21
|
$17,381/yr | 2.4x |
| 168 |
Dean College
Franklin, MA · Private nonprofit
|
20
12–20
|
$29,639/yr | 0.6x |
| 169 |
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI · Public
|
20
17–20
|
$17,962/yr | 5.5x |
| 170 |
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
Durham, NH · Public
|
20
15–21
|
$24,830/yr | 3.1x |
| 171 |
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Albuquerque, NM · Public
|
20
17–21
|
$17,964/yr | 7.8x |
| 172 |
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH · Public
|
20
16–21
|
$21,900/yr | 4.6x |
| 173 |
Wright State University-Main Campus
Dayton, OH · Public
|
20
17–20
|
$18,666/yr | 6.2x |
| 174 |
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI · Public
|
20
17–21
|
$19,551/yr | 2.0x |
| 175 |
Anderson University
Anderson, SC · Private nonprofit
|
20
16–20
|
$21,767/yr | 0.6x |
| 176 |
Radford University
Radford, VA · Public
|
20
16–20
|
$20,666/yr | 5.2x |
| 177 |
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL · Public
|
19
16–19
|
$19,543/yr | 4.8x |
| 178 |
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ · Private for-profit
|
19
15–19
|
$21,760/yr | 3.4x |
| 179 |
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · Public
|
19
15–19
|
$20,461/yr | 3.8x |
| 180 |
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
|
19
15–19
|
$19,673/yr | 4.3x |
| 181 |
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA · Public
|
19
17–20
|
$16,586/yr | 7.6x |
| 182 |
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL · Private nonprofit
|
19
15–19
|
$20,326/yr | 0.0x |
| 183 |
Millikin University
Decatur, IL · Private nonprofit
|
19
13–19
|
$24,013/yr | 2.3x |
| 184 |
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI · Public
|
19
16–19
|
$18,750/yr | 4.8x |
| 185 |
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI · Public
|
19
15–19
|
$21,585/yr | 3.4x |
| 186 |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · Public
|
19
15–19
|
$19,982/yr | 4.1x |
| 187 |
University of Northwestern-St Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit
|
19
15–19
|
$19,541/yr | 0.3x |
| 188 |
Belhaven University
Jackson, MS · Private nonprofit
|
19
16–19
|
$19,931/yr | 0.7x |
| 189 |
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ · Public
|
19
16–20
|
$18,474/yr | 5.1x |
| 190 |
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ · Public
|
19
16–19
|
$15,372/yr | 5.0x |
| 191 |
CUNY City College
New York, NY · Public
|
19
17–20
|
$15,098/yr | 7.6x |
| 192 |
Ohio University-Main Campus
Athens, OH · Public
|
19
16–19
|
$15,602/yr | 5.5x |
| 193 |
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, OK · Private nonprofit
|
19
15–20
|
$20,696/yr | 0.5x |
| 194 |
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
Indiana, PA · Public
|
19
15–19
|
$20,818/yr | 4.1x |
| 195 |
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, PA · Private nonprofit
|
19
15–20
|
$21,239/yr | 0.3x |
| 196 |
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC · Public
|
19
16–19
|
$16,862/yr | 5.6x |
| 197 |
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · Public
|
19
16–19
|
$19,055/yr | 5.2x |
| 198 |
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX · Public
|
19
16–19
|
$16,706/yr | 6.2x |
| 199 |
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · Public
|
19
15–20
|
$22,447/yr | 3.5x |
| 200 |
Viterbo University
La Crosse, WI · Private nonprofit
|
19
15–19
|
$19,930/yr | 0.5x |
| 201 |
Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia, AR · Private nonprofit
|
18
15–19
|
$18,350/yr | 0.4x |
| 202 |
The University of Tampa
Tampa, FL · Private nonprofit
|
18
15–18
|
$17,196/yr | 0.3x |
| 203 |
Piedmont University
Demorest, GA · Private nonprofit
|
18
15–19
|
$18,680/yr | 0.5x |
| 204 |
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · Public
|
18
16–18
|
$14,938/yr | 4.8x |
| 205 |
University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME · Public
|
18
17–19
|
$12,960/yr | 2.0x |
| 206 |
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI · Public
|
18
16–19
|
$17,328/yr | 4.4x |
| 207 |
Long Island University
Brookville, NY · Private nonprofit
|
18
15–19
|
$18,671/yr | 0.1x |
| 208 |
Ohio Northern University
Ada, OH · Private nonprofit
|
18
15–19
|
$19,167/yr | 0.3x |
| 209 |
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA · Public
|
18
15–18
|
$19,269/yr | 3.2x |
| 210 |
Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC · Public
|
18
14–18
|
$20,600/yr | 3.1x |
| 211 |
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
San Juan, PR · Public
|
18
16–18
|
$7,652/yr | 7.3x |
| 212 |
New York Film Academy
Burbank, CA · Private for-profit
|
18
15–18
|
$18,181/yr | 0.2x |
| 213 |
Chapman University
Orange, CA · Private nonprofit
|
17
11–17
|
$24,644/yr | 0.8x |
| 214 |
American University
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit
|
17
11–17
|
$23,979/yr | 1.1x |
| 215 |
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · Public
|
17
14–17
|
$17,577/yr | 3.3x |
| 216 |
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI · Public
|
17
15–18
|
$15,579/yr | 4.4x |
| 217 |
Stephens College
Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit
|
17
15–18
|
$16,476/yr | 0.5x |
| 218 |
Molloy College
Rockville Centre, NY · Private nonprofit
|
17
15–18
|
$17,050/yr | 0.1x |
| 219 |
Elon University
Elon, NC · Private nonprofit
|
17
12–18
|
$24,345/yr | 1.4x |
| 220 |
Arcadia University
Glenside, PA · Private nonprofit
|
17
15–18
|
$17,203/yr | -0.0x |
| 221 |
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Waterbury, CT · Public
|
17
14–17
|
$18,002/yr | 3.3x |
| 222 |
University of Connecticut-Avery Point
Groton, CT · Public
|
17
14–17
|
$18,002/yr | 3.3x |
| 223 |
University of Connecticut-Stamford
Stamford, CT · Public
|
17
14–17
|
$18,002/yr | 3.3x |
| 224 |
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
Hartford, CT · Public
|
17
14–17
|
$18,002/yr | 3.3x |
| 225 |
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT · Public
|
16
13–16
|
$18,002/yr | 2.7x |
| 226 |
Rollins College
Winter Park, FL · Private nonprofit
|
16
11–16
|
$23,664/yr | 0.3x |
| 227 |
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ · Public
|
16
13–16
|
$18,558/yr | 2.6x |
| 228 |
Nazareth University
Rochester, NY · Private nonprofit
|
16
11–16
|
$23,511/yr | 0.5x |
| 229 |
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit
|
16
11–16
|
$23,147/yr | 0.8x |
| 230 |
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit
|
16
11–16
|
$23,831/yr | 0.3x |
| 231 |
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA · Private nonprofit
|
15
11–16
|
$22,673/yr | 0.6x |
| 232 |
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
|
15
11–16
|
$21,869/yr | 1.0x |
| 233 |
Full Sail University
Winter Park, FL · Private for-profit
|
15
12–16
|
$20,226/yr | 1.9x |
| 234 |
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit
|
15
11–16
|
$22,021/yr | 0.9x |
| 235 |
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit
|
14
10–15
|
$20,798/yr | 0.7x |
| 236 |
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
|
14
10–15
|
$21,473/yr | 0.1x |
| 237 |
Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah, GA · Private nonprofit
|
14
11–15
|
$20,532/yr | 1.1x |
| 238 |
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit
|
14
11–14
|
$17,929/yr | 1.6x |
| 239 |
North Central College
Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit
|
14
11–15
|
$20,416/yr | 0.9x |
| 240 |
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit
|
14
10–14
|
$19,245/yr | 0.8x |
| 241 |
Roosevelt University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit
|
14
11–15
|
$21,001/yr | 0.9x |
| 242 |
Drake University
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit
|
14
10–14
|
$19,613/yr | 0.8x |
| 243 |
Boston University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
|
14
10–15
|
$21,508/yr | 0.4x |
| 244 |
Webster University
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit
|
14
12–14
|
$13,182/yr | 2.0x |
| 245 |
Marymount Manhattan College
New York, NY · Private nonprofit
|
14
11–14
|
$19,562/yr | 1.0x |
| 246 |
New York University
New York, NY · Private nonprofit
|
14
10–15
|
$20,916/yr | 0.3x |
| 247 |
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofit
|
14
10–15
|
$20,988/yr | 0.6x |
| 248 |
Baylor University
Waco, TX · Private nonprofit
|
14
10–14
|
$20,267/yr | 0.7x |
| 249 |
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX · Private nonprofit
|
14
10–15
|
$21,221/yr | 0.6x |
| 250 |
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL · Private nonprofit
|
13
10–14
|
$19,490/yr | 0.4x |
| 251 |
Emerson College
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
|
13
10–14
|
$19,560/yr | 0.5x |
| 252 |
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
Teaneck, NJ · Private nonprofit
|
13
11–14
|
$16,666/yr | 1.5x |
| 253 |
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofit
|
13
11–14
|
$16,666/yr | 1.5x |
| 254 |
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit
|
13
10–14
|
$18,243/yr | 0.9x |
| 255 |
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofit
|
13
10–14
|
$19,339/yr | 0.4x |
| 256 |
Baldwin Wallace University
Berea, OH · Private nonprofit
|
13
10–13
|
$16,055/yr | 1.0x |
| 257 |
Otterbein University
Westerville, OH · Private nonprofit
|
13
11–13
|
$12,546/yr | 1.7x |
| 258 |
DeSales University
Center Valley, PA · Private nonprofit
|
13
10–13
|
$17,377/yr | 0.9x |
| 259 |
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA · Private nonprofit
|
13
10–13
|
$17,150/yr | 0.6x |
| 260 |
Saint Edward's University
Austin, TX · Private nonprofit
|
13
11–13
|
$15,925/yr | 1.2x |
| 261 |
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA · Private nonprofit
|
13
10–14
|
$17,818/yr | 1.0x |
| 262 |
Cornish College of the Arts
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofit
|
13
10–14
|
$19,045/yr | 0.4x |
| 263 |
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY · Private nonprofit
|
12
10–12
|
$14,867/yr | 0.6x |
| 264 |
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
New York, NY · Private nonprofit
|
12
10–13
|
$17,410/yr | 0.2x |
| 265 |
Fordham University
Bronx, NY · Private nonprofit
|
12
10–12
|
$14,133/yr | 0.7x |
| 266 |
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY · Private nonprofit
|
12
10–12
|
$15,474/yr | 0.3x |
| 267 |
The New School
New York, NY · Private nonprofit
|
12
10–13
|
$17,113/yr | 0.1x |
| 268 |
Pace University
New York, NY · Private nonprofit
|
12
10–13
|
$16,659/yr | 0.4x |
| 269 |
Wagner College
Staten Island, NY · Private nonprofit
|
12
10–13
|
$17,478/yr | 0.4x |
| 270 |
University of the Arts
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit
|
12
10–12
|
$12,085/yr | 0.7x |
Frequently asked
What is the best school for Theater & Drama?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score, Southern Utah University ranks #1 for Theater & Drama with a score of 39/100 and graduate earnings of $27,335/yr.
How much do Theater & Drama graduates earn?
Across 270 schools, Theater & Drama graduates earn an average of $21,147/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $38,160/yr.
Is Theater & Drama a good major for AI resistance?
Theater & Drama has an average AI task exposure of 38%, rated "Moderate". This field has moderate AI exposure — some career paths are more resilient than others.