Home › University of California-Santa Barbara › Theater & Drama

Theater & Drama at University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
22 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
22
Optimistic
22
Base Case
18
Pessimistic
Earnings $20,503/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 6.8x earnings multiple (2.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #121 of 270 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs Top 50%

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 $400K $407K $391K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 6.7x 6.8x 6.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.2x 2.2x 2.1x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 22 22 18

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,860
Out-of-state: $182,968 (2.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,300
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,667
9.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$37,108
81% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Santa Barbara's Theater & Drama program produces graduates earning $20,503/yr — within striking distance of the $21,147 national average for this field.

At 6.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 37% task exposure — and the 2% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $16,667 debt-to-$20,503 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #121 out of 270 programs, University of California-Santa Barbara's Theater & Drama offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About University of California-Santa Barbara

Admission to University of California-Santa Barbara is competitive, with 28% of applicants accepted, one of the larger campuses at 23,205 students in Santa Barbara, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Santa Barbara →

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 of California-Santa Barbara

Computer Science ($107,776) Computer Engineering ($91,387) Mechanical Engineering ($81,108) Chemical Engineering ($79,737) Economics ($66,334) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($66,099) Applied Mathematics ($59,638) Statistics ($55,110)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Theater & Drama trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of California-Santa Barbara's Theater & Drama program score?
This program scores 22/100 — on the lower end for Theater & Drama. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →