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Theater & Drama at SUNY at Purchase College

Purchase, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
27
Optimistic
26
Base Case
23
Pessimistic
Earnings $18,090/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 14.5x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #50 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 $520K $518K $481K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.5x 14.5x 13.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.9x 6.9x 6.4x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 27 26 23

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,812
Out-of-state: $75,452 (6.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$76,268
-113% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
16.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,645
136% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

SUNY at Purchase College's Theater & Drama program produces graduates earning $18,090/yr — within striking distance of the $21,147 national average for this field.

The 14.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 37% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,000 debt load exceeds a year of the $18,090 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.

Ranked #50 out of 270 programs, SUNY at Purchase College's Theater & Drama program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $18,090 to $42,645 over five years (136% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About SUNY at Purchase College

A 73% acceptance rate means SUNY at Purchase College is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 3,110 students in Purchase, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at SUNY at Purchase College →

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 SUNY at Purchase College

Sociology ($35,124) Economics ($34,297) Biology, General ($33,914) Communication and Media Studies ($31,881) Visual and Performing Arts, Other ($31,175) Psychology, General ($27,838) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($25,197) History ($23,803)

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

How does SUNY at Purchase College's Theater & Drama program score?
This program scores 26/100 — on the lower end for Theater & Drama. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do SUNY at Purchase College Theater & Drama graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.4x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
Why does SUNY at Purchase College rank so high for Theater & Drama?
The #50 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 →