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Theater & Drama at CUNY City College

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
19 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
20
Optimistic
19
Base Case
17
Pessimistic
Earnings $15,098/yr (-29% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 14.4x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #191 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 Theater & Drama graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $418K $424K $404K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.2x 14.4x 13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.8x 6.9x 6.6x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 20 19 17

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,360
Out-of-state: $61,160 (6.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$13,944
53% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,489
9.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$25,104
66% growth from Year 1

About CUNY City College

A 58% admission rate makes CUNY City College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a mid-sized student body of 11,934 in New York, NY. With 60% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $13,944 over four years — 53% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY City 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 City College

Computer Science ($83,258) Computer Engineering ($78,326) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,172) Chemical Engineering ($67,450) Civil Engineering ($67,194) Mechanical Engineering ($65,905) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($62,945) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($56,711)

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 CUNY City College's Theater & Drama program score?
This program scores 19/100 — on the lower end for Theater & Drama. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Why are Theater & Drama earnings lower at CUNY City College?
Lower starting pay at CUNY City College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
How affordable is Theater & Drama at CUNY City College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $29,360, but the average net cost is $13,944 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →