Theater & Dramaat Gustavus Adolphus College
Graduates earn $28,601/yr in their first year — about 35.0% above the national Theater & Drama average. Base-case 10-year earnings $438K; scenarios range from $416K to $433K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Gustavus Adolphus College
The strong outcomes for Gustavus Adolphus's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program likely reflect a curriculum focused on developing highly transferable skills beyond performance alone. The "Stagecraft" component is key, indicating a program that emphasizes technical production, design, and project management – competencies highly valued in diverse industries. Graduates often leverage these skills in roles like event management, corporate media production, or even architectural lighting design, where a theatrical background provides a unique problem-solving edge. You'll find alumni succeeding as producers, designers, and educators, often by applying their creative and organizational talents in less obvious, yet lucrative, career paths across larger urban markets. Consider how your passion for theatre can translate into a broader skillset, and actively seek out internships that bridge your artistic interests with practical, in-demand technical or administrative roles.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Gustavus Adolphus College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Theater & Drama
How Gustavus Adolphus College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Gustavus Adolphus College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Gustavus Adolphus College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Theater & Drama offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Theater & Drama trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Theater & Drama at Gustavus Adolphus College
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.