Program Analysis
At $21,800/yr, Theater & Drama graduates from State University of New York at New Paltz land near the $21,147 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Theater & Drama programs nationally.
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 2% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $19,875 represents roughly 11 months of the $21,800 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #160 of 270 Theater & Drama programs, State University of New York at New Paltz falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $23,543 are relatively flat compared to the $21,800 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.