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Theater & Drama at Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
24 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
25
Optimistic
24
Base Case
17
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,601/yr (35% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 2.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #81 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 $433K $438K $416K
Earnings Multiple 2.0x 2.0x 1.9x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 25 24 17

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$217,240
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$107,580
50% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,601 put Gustavus Adolphus College's Theater & Drama program 35% above the national median of $21,147 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

An earnings multiple of 2.0x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 37% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #81 out of 270 programs, Gustavus Adolphus College's Theater & Drama offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About Gustavus Adolphus College

A 62% admission rate makes Gustavus Adolphus College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a smaller institution with 1,930 students in Saint Peter, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $107,580 — 50% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Gustavus Adolphus 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 Gustavus Adolphus College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,294) Accounting and Related Services ($64,094) Economics ($52,439) Communication and Media Studies ($50,074) Business/Commerce, General ($49,881) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($47,250) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($44,117) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($38,796)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Theater & Drama trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Gustavus Adolphus College'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.
How affordable is Theater & Drama at Gustavus Adolphus College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $217,240, but the average net cost is $107,580 — a 50% 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 →