Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $17,524/yr fall 17% below the $21,147 national median for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
The 16.3x 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 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $15,201 debt-to-$17,524 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #75 out of 270 programs, California State University-Northridge's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $17,524 to $33,395 over five years (91% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.