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Theater & Drama at SUNY College at Potsdam

Potsdam, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
27
Base Case
22
Pessimistic
Earnings $22,873/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 13.8x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #35 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 $480K $481K $450K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.8x 13.8x 12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.4x 6.5x 6.0x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 27 22

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,848
Out-of-state: $74,488 (6.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,180
-64% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,208
13.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,609
73% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $22,873 per year, Theater & Drama graduates from SUNY College at Potsdam earn slightly above the $21,147 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 13.8x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,208 debt load exceeds a year of the $22,873 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.

Ranked #35 out of 270 programs, SUNY College at Potsdam's Theater & Drama program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $22,873 to $39,609 over five years (73% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About SUNY College at Potsdam

With 85% of applicants admitted, SUNY College at Potsdam prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 1,951 students in Potsdam, NY. Pell Grant recipients make up 43% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

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

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 College at Potsdam

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($45,110) Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management ($36,899) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($36,555) Sociology ($36,500) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($36,487) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($35,950) Communication and Media Studies ($34,933) Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General ($29,455)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Theater & Drama trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does SUNY College at Potsdam's Theater & Drama program score?
This program scores 27/100 — on the lower end for Theater & Drama. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do SUNY College at Potsdam Theater & Drama graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.1x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
Why does SUNY College at Potsdam rank so high for Theater & Drama?
The #35 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 →