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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Peer schools offering Theater & Drama
How UCLA stacks up against other schools offering this major.
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 →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.