Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $28,958 put Illinois State University's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program 37% above the national median of $21,147 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 7.3x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft'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.
Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 9 months of the $28,958 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #45 of 270 nationally, this is a top-5% Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $28,958 to $39,893 over five years — a 38% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.