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Theater & Drama at CUNY Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
27
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings $20,645/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 16.3x earnings multiple (7.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #34 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 $484K $485K $453K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.2x 16.3x 15.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.9x 7.9x 7.4x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 27 24

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,808
Out-of-state: $61,608 (7.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$11,772
61% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,051
89% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $20,645/yr, roughly in line with the $21,147 national median for Theater & Drama. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Theater & Drama programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Theater & Drama's typical career paths, with 37% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

At #34 of 270 nationally, this is a top-5% Theater & Drama program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $39,051 show a 89% jump from the $20,645 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About CUNY Brooklyn College

A 54% admission rate makes CUNY Brooklyn College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a mid-sized student body of 10,443 in Brooklyn, NY. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $11,772 over four years — 61% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY Brooklyn College →

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 CUNY Brooklyn College

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($51,862) Information Science/Studies ($49,688) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($46,233) Accounting and Related Services ($42,862) Sociology ($41,062) Finance and Financial Management Services ($37,867) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($37,223) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($37,057)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Theater & Drama trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Theater & Drama at CUNY Brooklyn College?
A score of 27/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Theater & Drama. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
What makes CUNY Brooklyn College's Theater & Drama program stand out?
Ranked #34 of 270 programs nationally, CUNY Brooklyn College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Is CUNY Brooklyn College a hidden gem for Theater & Drama?
After financial aid, the average student pays $11,772 over four years — 61% below the $29,808 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →