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Visual & Performing Arts · Theater & Drama Rank #135 of 270

Theater & Dramaat Oberlin College

Graduates earn $12,441/yr in their first year — about 41.0% below the national Theater & Drama average. Base-case 10-year earnings $376K; scenarios range from $366K to $367K depending on AI disruption.

Oberlin, OH Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
22 AT RISK
22
Optimistic
20
Pessimistic
Earnings
$12,441
1-year post-graduation
ROI
-0.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$376K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
38% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Oberlin College

A theatre arts degree from a distinguished liberal arts institution like Oberlin often signals a path driven by passion and artistic exploration, rather than a direct pipeline to immediate high earnings. Your experience here will be deeply immersive, focusing on performance, critical theory, and the craft of stage production within a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment. Many graduates pursue independent theatre, experimental productions, arts education, or further graduate study, careers that frequently involve non-traditional income streams or lower initial salaries. The extensive training you receive in stagecraft, however, provides valuable technical skills, opening doors to roles in regional theatre, event production, or even film and television later on. To navigate this landscape, actively seek out internships with professional companies and build a robust network while still a student. This proactive approach will be crucial for translating your artistic passion into a sustainable career.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$366K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score20/100
Earnings Multiple1.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$376K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score22/100
Earnings Multiple1.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$367K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score22/100
Earnings Multiple1.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Oberlin College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Theater & Drama graduates typically work

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.

1
Producers and directors
+4.9% 10-yr growth · 12,800 openings/yr
$83,480/yr
Moderate
2
Fashion designers
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 2,300 openings/yr
$80,690/yr
Moderate
3
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 9,000 openings/yr
$80,190/yr
Moderate
4
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
5
Set and exhibit designers
+2.3% 10-yr growth · 2,500 openings/yr
$66,280/yr
Moderate
6
Music directors and composers
-0.3% 10-yr growth · 4,300 openings/yr
$63,670/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Theater & Drama

How Oberlin College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Saint Mary's College of California
CA · Private nonprofit
31
DW Score
$38K
1-yr earn
0.7x
ROI
University of Notre Dame
IN · Private nonprofit
29
DW Score
$38K
1-yr earn
1.5x
ROI
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
VA · Public
31
DW Score
$37K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
University of South Dakota
SD · Public
29
DW Score
$34K
1-yr earn
6.5x
ROI
Top score
The University of Texas at Austin
TX · Public
34
DW Score
$33K
1-yr earn
6.1x
ROI
Also at Oberlin College

Other top programs at Oberlin College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Oberlin 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Theater & Drama at Oberlin College

What does a 22/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Theater & Drama at Oberlin College?

At 22/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Theater & Drama programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Is Oberlin College a good choice for Theater & Drama despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If Oberlin College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.