Theater & Drama at Millikin University

Decatur, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
19 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
19
Optimistic
19
Base Case
13
Pessimistic
Earnings $24,013/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 4.3x earnings multiple (2.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #183 of 270 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs

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 $455K $457K $431K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 4.2x 4.3x 4.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.6x 2.6x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 19 19 13

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$107,568
Out-of-state: $174,680 (2.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$35,348
67% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
13.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$35,442
48% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Millikin University's Theater & Drama graduates start at $24,013/yr — above the $21,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 4.3x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 against $24,013/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.1 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #183 of 270 Theater & Drama programs, Millikin University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $24,013 to $35,442 over five years — a 48% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Millikin University

Millikin University's 54% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,458 students in Decatur, IL. The average net cost of $35,348 over four years represents a 67% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Millikin 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

Theater & Drama at Other Schools

Other Majors at Millikin University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Theater & Drama at Millikin University?
A score of 19/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Theater & Drama. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Theater & Drama at Millikin University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $27,000 against $24,013/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Is Millikin University a hidden gem for Theater & Drama?
After financial aid, the average student pays $35,348 over four years — 67% below the $107,568 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →