Theater & Drama at California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
22 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
23
Optimistic
22
Base Case
20
Pessimistic
Earnings $18,082/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 15.8x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #119 of 270 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Theater & Drama graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $438K $442K $419K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.7x 15.8x 15.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.8x 5.9x 5.6x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 23 22 20

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,920
Out-of-state: $75,440 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$25,920
7% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,413
8.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$30,004
66% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Fresno's Theater & Drama program produces graduates earning $18,082/yr — within striking distance of the $21,147 national average for this field.

The 15.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 37% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $12,413 debt-to-$18,082 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #119 out of 270 programs, California State University-Fresno's Theater & Drama offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $18,082 to $30,004 over five years (66% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Fresno

A 96% acceptance rate means California State University-Fresno is accessible to most applicants, with 21,070 students enrolled in Fresno, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Fresno →

Top Career Paths

Producers and directors $83,480/yr
Fashion designers $80,690/yr
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190/yr
View all 12 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Theater & Drama at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Fresno

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Fresno's Theater & Drama program score?
This program scores 22/100 — on the lower end for Theater & Drama. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →