Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $29,400 put Manhattan School of Music's Theater & Drama program 39% above the national median of $21,147 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
The financial case is thin at 2.0x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
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 4% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $26,596 represents roughly 11 months of the $29,400 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #72 of 270 Theater & Drama programs, Manhattan School of Music scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.