Most Selective Highest Earnings Best Value Free Tuition UK Universities

Best Schools for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates earn a median of $22,828 within two years of graduation, ranking #280 out of 292 tracked majors — 36% below the median across all fields. There are 296 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 9,761 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Michigan Technological University graduates earn $49,683 while California State Polytechnic University-Pomona graduates earn $11,434 — a $38,249 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates see an average 6% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

296
Schools
$22,828
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#280
of 292 Majors
9,761
Graduates

Public vs Private: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Public (197 schools)
$23,023
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (92 schools)
$22,310
avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft by State

New York
33 schools
$22,807
California
28 schools
$22,421
Texas
17 schools
$24,704
Illinois
17 schools
$22,425
Ohio
13 schools
$23,048
Michigan
12 schools
$24,270
Pennsylvania
11 schools
$21,233
Georgia
10 schools
$20,378

Top Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
M

Michigan Technological University

Houghton, MI · Public

$49,683
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 87.9%
#2
T

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$45,128
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,559
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 29.1%
#3
C

CUNY New York City College of Technology

Brooklyn, NY · Public

$38,829
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,591
Grads: 37
Acceptance: 80.7%
#4
T

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,176
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 70.9%
#5
U

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private

$36,437
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,882
Grads: 44
Acceptance: 12.4%
#6
U

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NV · Public

$33,281
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,759
Grads: 60
Acceptance: 96.3%
#7
U

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO · Public

$32,925
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,688
Grads: 39
Acceptance: 77.8%
#8
U

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston Salem, NC · Public

$32,213
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,424
Grads: 105
Acceptance: 33.1%
#9
U

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$31,839
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,067
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 11.7%
#10
S

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

$31,839
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 94.7%
#11
C

Concordia College at Moorhead

Moorhead, MN · Private

$31,670
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 63.1%
#12
G

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

$31,305
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 43.5%
#13
U

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public

$31,305
2yr Earnings
1yr: $20,214
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 42.5%
#14
M

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,269
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 99.1%
#15
V

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, IN · Private

$30,771
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 92.2%
#16
U

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Green Bay, WI · Public

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,414
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 87.8%
#17
F

Full Sail University

Winter Park, FL ·

$30,228
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,565
Grads: 206
Acceptance: N/A
#18
M

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 96.5%
#19
W

West Texas A & M University

Canyon, TX · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,421
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 97.4%
#20
U

Utah Valley University

Orem, UT ·

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,046
Grads: 22
Acceptance: N/A
#21
U

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 43.4%
#22
U

University of Wisconsin-River Falls

River Falls, WI · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 81.6%
#23
U

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, CO · Public

$29,202
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,678
Grads: 71
Acceptance: 86.4%
#24
S

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, PA · Public

$29,141
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,374
Grads: 16
Acceptance: 74.6%
#25
U

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public

$28,960
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,322
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 18.7%
#26
T

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

$28,960
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 63.2%
#27
L

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$28,598
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,556
Grads: 91
Acceptance: 40.3%
#28
G

Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, GA · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 87.8%
#29
S

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,021
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 97.2%
#30
S

SUNY Oneonta

Oneonta, NY · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 70.2%
#31
U

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NC · Public

$28,598
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,016
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 80.2%
#32
L

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, MO · Private

$28,381
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,257
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 65.9%
#33
T

Truman State University

Kirksville, MO · Public

$28,236
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,374
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 80.0%
#34
V

Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, NY · Private

$28,236
2yr Earnings
1yr: $20,008
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 17.7%
#35
I

Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY · Private

$28,133
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,736
Grads: 88
Acceptance: 69.9%
#36
C

College of Staten Island CUNY

Staten Island, NY · Public

$28,055
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#37
V

Vanguard University of Southern California

Costa Mesa, CA · Private

$28,019
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 64.7%
#38
F

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

$27,947
2yr Earnings
1yr: $20,070
Grads: 87
Acceptance: 25.4%
#39
U

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

$27,947
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,105
Grads: 73
Acceptance: 17.9%
#40
U

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public

$27,947
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,635
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 77.1%
#41
S

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, TX · Public

$27,947
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,356
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 85.4%
#42
U

University of Oregon

Eugene, OR · Public

$27,862
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,606
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 85.1%
#43
K

Knox College

Galesburg, IL · Private

$27,439
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 71.1%
#44
O

Ohio State University-Lima Campus

Lima, OH ·

$27,343
2yr Earnings
1yr: $20,371
Grads: 34
Acceptance: N/A
#45
O

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

$27,343
2yr Earnings
1yr: $20,371
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 50.8%
#46
U

University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public

$27,126
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,394
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 72.5%
#47
O

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI · Public

$26,933
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,672
Grads: 35
Acceptance: 70.2%
#48
E

Emerson College

Boston, MA · Private

$26,799
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,766
Grads: 119
Acceptance: 47.5%
#49
A

American University

Washington, DC · Private

$26,739
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,854
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 47.4%
#50
S

SUNY at Purchase College

Purchase, NY · Public

$26,482
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,288
Grads: 155
Acceptance: 72.8%

Showing top 50 of 296 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Botany/Plant Biology $24,895 Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology $24,797 Archeology $24,201 Classical and Ancient Studies $23,818 Dance $23,031 Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry $22,066

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft?
Michigan Technological University ranks #1 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft with median graduate earnings of $49,683 within two years. There are 296 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates earn?
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates earn an average of $22,828 within two years of graduation. This is 36% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $11,434 to $49,683 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program?
The average acceptance rate across Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs is 70.7%. The most selective program is at Northwestern University with a 7.1% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft?
Private Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs average $22,310 in early earnings vs $23,023 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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