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Theater & Drama at California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
25 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
25
Optimistic
25
Base Case
22
Pessimistic
Earnings $18,182/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 16.5x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #63 of 270 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs Top 25%

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 $466K $468K $440K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.5x 16.5x 15.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.1x 6.2x 5.8x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 25 25 22

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,292
Out-of-state: $75,812 (6.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$22,584
20% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
9.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$34,683
91% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Fullerton's Theater & Drama program produces graduates earning $18,182/yr — within striking distance of the $21,147 national average for this field.

The 16.5x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $15,000 debt-to-$18,182 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #63 out of 270 programs, California State University-Fullerton's Theater & Drama program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $18,182 to $34,683 over five years (91% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Fullerton

A 87% acceptance rate means California State University-Fullerton is accessible to most applicants, with 36,956 students enrolled in Fullerton, CA. With 47% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

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

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

Compare this program → View all 270 schools offering Theater & Drama →

Theater & Drama at Other Schools

Saint Mary's College of California ($38,160) University of Notre Dame ($37,531) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ($36,557) University of South Dakota ($33,852) The University of Texas at Austin ($33,261) Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania ($33,169) Carnegie Mellon University ($32,967) University of Colorado Boulder ($32,142)

Other Majors at California State University-Fullerton

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($103,028) Civil Engineering ($72,606) Mechanical Engineering ($65,252) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($63,468) Computer Science ($57,307) Computer Engineering ($55,093) Information Science/Studies ($49,897) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($49,830)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Theater & Drama trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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-Fullerton's Theater & Drama program score?
This program scores 25/100 — on the lower end for Theater & Drama. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Why does California State University-Fullerton rank so high for Theater & Drama?
The #63 ranking out of 270 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →