Theater & Drama at University of New Orleans

New Orleans, LA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
24 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
24
Optimistic
24
Base Case
20
Pessimistic
Earnings $21,504/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 12.7x earnings multiple (8.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #80 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 $463K $465K $438K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.6x 12.7x 11.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.3x 8.3x 7.8x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 24 24 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)
$36,688
Out-of-state: $56,032 (8.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$44,588
-22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
10.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$35,929
67% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $21,504 track close to the $21,147 national median for Theater & Drama programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Theater & Drama programs nationally.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,500 represents roughly 11 months of the $21,504 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #80 of 270 Theater & Drama programs, University of New Orleans scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $35,929 show a 67% jump from the $21,504 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of New Orleans

With a 67% acceptance rate, University of New Orleans is moderately selective, a compact campus enrolling 4,479 students in New Orleans, LA. 40% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of New Orleans →

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

Other Majors at University of New Orleans

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Theater & Drama at University of New Orleans?
A score of 24/100 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 →