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Theater & Drama at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,261/yr (57% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)

Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)

ROI 9.8x earnings multiple (2.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #3 of 270 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs Top 1%

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	$453K	$456K	$430K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.7x	9.8x	9.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	2.6x	2.7x	2.5x
Probability of Field Employment	36%	33%	27%
DegreeOutlook Score	34	34	25

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,712

Out-of-state: $171,112 (2.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$78,712

-69% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,711

9.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $33,261 put The University of Texas at Austin's Theater & Drama program 57% above the national median of $21,147 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,711 represents roughly 9 months of the $33,261 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #3 of 270 Theater & Drama programs nationally, The University of Texas at Austin sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.

About The University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin accepts 29% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, with 42,100 students enrolled in Austin, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Austin →

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 The University of Texas at Austin

Consider the Trade Route?

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Theater & Drama at The University of Texas at Austin?

A score of 34/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Theater & Drama. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

What makes The University of Texas at Austin's Theater & Drama program stand out?

Ranked #3 of 270 programs nationally, The University of Texas at Austin lands in the top 1%. 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 →