Theater & Drama at Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
27
Optimistic
27
Base Case
21
Pessimistic
Earnings $26,045/yr (23% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #39 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 $477K $478K $448K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.4x 10.4x 9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.1x 5.2x 4.8x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 27 27 21

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,800
Out-of-state: $92,840 (5.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,752
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
9.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,459
55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Texas State University's Theater & Drama graduates start at $26,045/yr — above the $21,147 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.4x 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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,500 represents roughly 9 months of the $26,045 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #39 of 270 nationally, this is a top-5% Theater & Drama program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $40,459 show a 55% jump from the $26,045 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Texas State University

A 89% acceptance rate means Texas State University is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 34,547 students in San Marcos, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas State 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

Theater & Drama at Other Schools

Other Majors at Texas State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

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 is the DegreeOutlook Score for Theater & Drama at Texas State University?
A score of 27/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Theater & Drama. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
What makes Texas State University's Theater & Drama program stand out?
Ranked #39 of 270 programs nationally, Texas State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →