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Theater & Drama at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
24 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
25
Optimistic
24
Base Case
19
Pessimistic
Earnings $24,770/yr (17% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 6.1x earnings multiple (2.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #84 of 270 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs Top 50%

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 $418K $423K $404K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 6.1x 6.1x 5.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.9x 2.9x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 25 24 19

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$68,956
Out-of-state: $144,004 (2.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$94,076
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,000
10.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $24,770/yr, edging above the $21,147 national average for Theater & Drama — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

A 6.1x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

The 3% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Theater & Drama career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $21,000 against $24,770/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #84 ranking among 270 Theater & Drama programs places Rutgers University-New Brunswick in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

About Rutgers University-New Brunswick

With a 65% acceptance rate, Rutgers University-New Brunswick is moderately selective, one of the larger campuses at 36,357 students in New Brunswick, NJ.

See all programs and financial aid at Rutgers University-New Brunswick →

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

Compare this program → View all 270 schools offering Theater & Drama →

Theater & Drama at Other Schools

Saint Mary's College of California ($38,160) University of Notre Dame ($37,531) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ($36,557) University of South Dakota ($33,852) The University of Texas at Austin ($33,261) Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania ($33,169) Carnegie Mellon University ($32,967) University of Colorado Boulder ($32,142)

Other Majors at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($87,594) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($82,598) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($80,448) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($80,060) Industrial Engineering ($78,501) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($78,177) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($72,259) Mechanical Engineering ($71,569)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Theater & Drama trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 does a 24/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Theater & Drama at Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
At 24/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Theater & Drama programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →