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Theater & Drama at Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
16 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
16
Optimistic
16
Base Case
11
Pessimistic
Earnings $23,831/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 1.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #230 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 $451K $454K $428K
Earnings Multiple 1.7x 1.8x 1.7x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 16 16 11

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$257,840
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$167,112
35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,000
11.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$34,577
45% growth from Year 1

About Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University accepts 61% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a mid-sized student body of 7,106 in Dallas, TX. The average net cost of $167,112 over four years represents a 35% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Methodist 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 Southern Methodist University

Computer Science ($93,679) Finance and Financial Management Services ($83,159) Mechanical Engineering ($79,280) Statistics ($76,759) Mathematics ($74,516) Operations Research ($72,658) Economics ($71,630) Accounting and Related Services ($68,643)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Theater & Drama trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 16/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Theater & Drama at Southern Methodist University?
At 16/100, 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 →