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Visual & Performing Arts · Theater & Drama Rank #180 of 270

Theater & Dramaat University of California-Los Angeles

Graduates earn $19,673/yr in their first year — about 7.0% below the national Theater & Drama average. Base-case 10-year earnings $434K; scenarios range from $412K to $429K depending on AI disruption.

Los Angeles, CA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
19 AT RISK
19
Optimistic
15
Pessimistic
Earnings
$19,673
1-year post-graduation
ROI
4.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$434K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
38% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at UCLA

Your UCLA Drama degree places you right in the heart of the entertainment capital, offering unparalleled access to internships and networking crucial for this competitive field. The initial earnings trajectory reflects the reality of many creative careers, where entry-level roles in theater, film, and television often involve modest pay, particularly in a high-cost city like Los Angeles. You'll likely start in production assistant roles, stagecraft, or independent projects, building your portfolio and connections. The path to becoming a director, producer, or established designer is often long, project-based, and heavily reliant on consistent networking and reputation building. Leverage your program's deep industry ties and the professional opportunities surrounding you from day one. Focus intensely on practical experience and building a diverse skillset to accelerate your journey.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$412K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score15/100
Earnings Multiple7.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$434K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score19/100
Earnings Multiple7.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$429K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score19/100
Earnings Multiple7.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UCLA's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Theater & Drama graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Producers and directors
+4.9% 10-yr growth · 12,800 openings/yr
$83,480/yr
Moderate
2
Fashion designers
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 2,300 openings/yr
$80,690/yr
Moderate
3
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 9,000 openings/yr
$80,190/yr
Moderate
4
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
5
Set and exhibit designers
+2.3% 10-yr growth · 2,500 openings/yr
$66,280/yr
Moderate
6
Music directors and composers
-0.3% 10-yr growth · 4,300 openings/yr
$63,670/yr
Very High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Theater & Drama

How UCLA stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Saint Mary's College of California
CA · Private nonprofit
31
DW Score
$38K
1-yr earn
0.7x
ROI
University of Notre Dame
IN · Private nonprofit
29
DW Score
$38K
1-yr earn
1.5x
ROI
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
VA · Public
31
DW Score
$37K
1-yr earn
4.8x
ROI
University of South Dakota
SD · Public
29
DW Score
$34K
1-yr earn
6.5x
ROI
Top score
The University of Texas at Austin
TX · Public
34
DW Score
$33K
1-yr earn
6.1x
ROI
Also at UCLA

Other top programs at UCLA

Other highest-scoring programs offered at UCLA, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Theater & Drama offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Theater & Drama trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Theater & Drama at UCLA

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.