Theater & Drama at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
29 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
29
Optimistic
29
Base Case
23
Pessimistic
Earnings $26,457/yr (25% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 12.0x earnings multiple (2.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #23 of 270 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs Top 10%

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 $425K $430K $409K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.8x 12.0x 11.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 2.7x 2.7x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 29 29 23

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,956
Out-of-state: $157,320 (2.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,932
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,827
7.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $26,457 put University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Theater & Drama program 25% above the national median of $21,147 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.0x 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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $15,827 represents roughly 7 months of the $26,457 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #23 of 270 programs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Theater & Drama program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill accepts 19% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, serving a student body of 20,556 in Chapel Hill, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill →

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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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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Theater & Drama at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill?
A score of 29/100 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 →