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Theater & Drama at Columbus State University

Columbus, GA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
24 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
25
Optimistic
24
Base Case
21
Pessimistic
Earnings $18,769/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 18.8x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #78 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 $427K $432K $411K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.6x 18.8x 17.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.4x 6.4x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 25 24 21

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$23,004
Out-of-state: $67,220 (6.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$47,556
-107% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
16.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$28,203
50% growth from Year 1

About Columbus State University

Columbus State University accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 5,537 students in Columbus, GA. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbus State University →

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 Columbus State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($74,454) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($56,660) Management Information Systems and Services ($53,153) Accounting and Related Services ($47,646) Finance and Financial Management Services ($46,812) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($41,780) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($40,616) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($39,714)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Theater & Drama trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

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 Columbus State University's Theater & Drama program score?
This program scores 24/100 — on the lower end for Theater & Drama. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Columbus State University Theater & Drama graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.3x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →