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Theater & Drama at University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $22,289/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)

Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)

ROI 12.7x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #33 of 270 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs Top 25%

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	$495K	$495K	$462K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.7x	12.7x	11.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.8x	5.8x	5.4x
Probability of Field Employment	36%	33%	27%
DegreeOutlook Score	27	27	22

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,912

Out-of-state: $85,088 (5.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,436

-50% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

11.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$41,807

88% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $22,289 at University of Northern Iowa come in 5% above the national median of $21,147 for Theater & Drama programs.

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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 12 months of the $22,289 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #33 of 270 nationally, this is a top-5% Theater & Drama program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $41,807 show a 88% jump from the $22,289 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Northern Iowa

University of Northern Iowa accepts 94% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 7,599 students in Cedar Falls, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Northern Iowa →

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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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Theater & Drama at University of Northern Iowa?

A score of 27/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Theater & Drama. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

What makes University of Northern Iowa's Theater & Drama program stand out?

Ranked #33 of 270 programs nationally, University of Northern Iowa lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →