Theater & Drama at University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
23
Optimistic
22
Base Case
19
Pessimistic
Earnings
$20,450/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market
Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI
14.7x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
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 | $424K | $429K | $408K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 14.5x | 14.7x | 14.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.6x | 4.7x | 4.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 36% | 33% | 27% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 23 | 22 | 19 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,268
Out-of-state: $91,940 (4.7x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
14.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$28,208
38% growth from Year 1
About University of North Carolina Wilmington
University of North Carolina Wilmington accepts 74% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 14,176 students in Wilmington, NC.
See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina Wilmington →Top Career Paths
Producers and directors
$83,480/yr
Fashion designers
$80,690/yr
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
$80,190/yr
Compare & Explore
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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 Wilmington?
A score of 22/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Theater & Drama. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Theater & Drama at University of North Carolina Wilmington worth the student debt?
Median debt of $25,000 against $20,450/yr starting salary means roughly 1.2 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →