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Theater & Drama at Saint Edward's University

Austin, TX · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
13 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
13
Optimistic
13
Base Case
11
Pessimistic
Earnings $15,925/yr (-25% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #260 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 $553K $549K $505K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.7x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 13 13 11

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$205,536
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$94,544
54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
19.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,767
181% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $15,925 place Saint Edward's University below the $21,147 national median for Theater & Drama — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The financial case is thin at 2.7x — 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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,000 against $15,925/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.6 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #260 of 270 Theater & Drama programs, Saint Edward's University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $44,767 show a 181% jump from the $15,925 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Saint Edward's University

Saint Edward's University accepts 84% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 2,729 in Austin, TX. The average net cost of $94,544 over four years represents a 54% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Saint Edward's 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

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 Saint Edward's University

Computer Science ($76,093) Accounting and Related Services ($59,382) Finance and Financial Management Services ($55,177) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($52,758) International Business ($51,843) Marketing ($49,632) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($46,569) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($36,829)

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 is the DegreeOutlook Score for Theater & Drama at Saint Edward's University?
A score of 13/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Theater & Drama. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Theater & Drama at Saint Edward's University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $26,000 against $15,925/yr starting salary means roughly 1.6 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Can you still earn well with Theater & Drama from Saint Edward's University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Is Saint Edward's University a hidden gem for Theater & Drama?
After financial aid, the average student pays $94,544 over four years — 54% below the $205,536 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 →