Theater & Drama at Wright State University-Main Campus

Dayton, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
20 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
20
Optimistic
20
Base Case
17
Pessimistic
Earnings $18,666/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (37% exposed)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)
ROI 10.1x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #173 of 270 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs

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 $449K $453K $428K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.0x 10.1x 9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.5x 5.2x
Probability of Field Employment 36% 33% 27%
DegreeOutlook Score 20 20 17

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,752
Out-of-state: $82,424 (5.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$60,864
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
16.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$32,244
73% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $18,666/yr, roughly in line with the $21,147 national median for Theater & Drama. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.1x 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 $26,000 against $18,666/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.4 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #173 of 270 Theater & Drama programs, Wright State University-Main Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $32,244 show a 73% jump from the $18,666 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Wright State University-Main Campus

Wright State University-Main Campus accepts 95% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 6,330 in Dayton, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Wright State University-Main Campus →

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 Wright State University-Main Campus

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 Wright State University-Main Campus?
A score of 20/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Theater & Drama. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Theater & Drama at Wright State University-Main Campus worth the student debt?
Median debt of $26,000 against $18,666/yr starting salary means roughly 1.4 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 →