Theater & Drama at University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
19 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
19
Optimistic
19
Base Case
15
Pessimistic
Earnings $19,673/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 7.9x earnings multiple (2.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #180 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 $429K $434K $412K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 7.8x 7.9x 7.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.4x 2.4x 2.3x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 19 19 15

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,988
Out-of-state: $178,096 (2.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$56,052
-2% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,825
10.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$28,993
47% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $19,673/yr, Theater & Drama graduates from University of California-Los Angeles land near the $21,147 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 7.9x 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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $16,825 represents roughly 10 months of the $19,673 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #180 of 270 Theater & Drama programs, University of California-Los Angeles falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $19,673 to $28,993 over five years — a 47% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of California-Los Angeles

With just 9% of applicants admitted, University of California-Los Angeles ranks among the nation's most selective schools, with 33,040 students enrolled in Los Angeles, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Los Angeles →

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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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Theater & Drama at University of California-Los Angeles?
A score of 19/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Theater & Drama. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →