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Theater & Drama at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

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

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $16,706/yr (-21% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)

Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)

ROI 11.1x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #198 of 270 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs

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	$432K	$437K	$415K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.0x	11.1x	10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.4x	5.5x	5.2x
Probability of Field Employment	36%	33%	27%
DegreeOutlook Score	19	19	16

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$39,436

Out-of-state: $79,756 (5.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$26,000

34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$11,002

7.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$28,318

70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $16,706 place The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley below the $21,147 national median for Theater & Drama — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.1x 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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $11,002 represents roughly 8 months of the $16,706 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #198 of 270 Theater & Drama programs, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $28,318 show a 70% jump from the $16,706 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 27,026 in Edinburg, TX. 64% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity. The average net cost of $26,000 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley →

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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Theater & Drama at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley?

A score of 19/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Theater & Drama. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Can you still earn well with Theater & Drama from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →