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Theater & Drama at University at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
26
Optimistic
26
Base Case
20
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,810/yr (22% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 10.8x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #49 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 $461K $464K $436K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.7x 10.8x 10.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.8x 3.8x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 26 26 20

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,128
Out-of-state: $122,288 (3.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$81,880
-90% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,500
10.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$37,364
45% growth from Year 1

About University at Buffalo

University at Buffalo's 69% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 20,284 in Buffalo, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at University at Buffalo →

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 University at Buffalo

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($78,621) Computer Engineering ($74,753) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($74,205) Computer Science ($72,283) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($70,264) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($69,716) Chemical Engineering ($67,873) Mechanical Engineering ($65,094)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Theater & Drama trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

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 University at Buffalo?
A score of 26/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Theater & Drama. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
What makes University at Buffalo's Theater & Drama program stand out?
Ranked #49 of 270 programs nationally, University at Buffalo 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 →