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Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
21 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
22
Optimistic
21
Base Case
18
Pessimistic
Earnings $19,231/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 15.1x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #145 of 270 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $417K $423K $403K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.9x 15.1x 14.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.6x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 22 21 18

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,032
Out-of-state: $75,552 (5.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$35,724
-27% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
9.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$26,450
38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $19,231/yr, Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates from California State University-Long Beach land near the $21,147 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 15.1x 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 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $15,000 debt-to-$19,231 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #145 out of 270 programs, California State University-Long Beach's financial outcomes for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $19,231 to $26,450 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Long Beach

California State University-Long Beach accepts 47% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 34,131 students in Long Beach, CA. With 49% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

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

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 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft →

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft 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-Long Beach

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($100,178) Construction Engineering Technologies ($89,003) Computer Engineering ($79,809) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,278) Civil Engineering ($73,342) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($66,477) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($66,090) Mechanical Engineering ($60,996)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Long Beach's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program score?
This program scores 21/100 — on the lower end for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. 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 →