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Theater & Drama at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
25 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
25
Optimistic
25
Base Case
18
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,004/yr (28% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 8.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #67 of 270 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs Top 25%

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 $448K $452K $427K
Earnings Multiple 8.5x 8.5x 8.1x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 25 25 18

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$52,976
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$64,708
-22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,500
10.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$35,096
30% growth from Year 1

About Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale has a 90% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 8,116 students in Carbondale, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale →

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 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Fire Protection ($104,017) Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($73,283) Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($72,495) Computer Science ($70,053) Mechanical Engineering ($69,454) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($69,021) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($68,670) Civil Engineering ($65,269)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Theater & Drama trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

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

How does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Theater & Drama program score?
This program scores 25/100 — on the lower end for Theater & Drama. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Why does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale rank so high for Theater & Drama?
The #67 ranking out of 270 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →