Theater & Drama at George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
24 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
25
Optimistic
24
Base Case
19
Pessimistic
Earnings $22,984/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 7.5x earnings multiple (2.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #93 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 $410K $416K $398K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 7.4x 7.5x 7.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.6x 2.6x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 25 24 19

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$55,260
Out-of-state: $157,588 (2.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,148
-32% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
14.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$36,403
58% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

George Mason University's Theater & Drama graduates start at $22,984/yr — above the $21,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 7.5x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 against $22,984/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.2 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

At #93 of 270 Theater & Drama programs, George Mason University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About George Mason University

A 89% acceptance rate means George Mason University is accessible to most applicants, with 27,083 students enrolled in Fairfax, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at George Mason 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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Theater & Drama at George Mason University?
A score of 24/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Theater & Drama. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Theater & Drama at George Mason University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $27,000 against $22,984/yr starting salary means roughly 1.2 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →