Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 50.05. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 1,624 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 158 | 1,183 | $23,873 | $31,337 | $15,750 8 programs |
| Associate's degree | 256 | 1,637 | $22,567 | $31,773 | $12,000 6 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 919 | 12,120 | $29,768 | $39,775 | $23,401 214 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Master's degree | 218 | 1,572 | $41,366 | $49,978 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 41 | 92 | $60,141 | $64,704 | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 29 | 36 | $57,951 | $62,409 | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Undergraduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus OH · Public · 35 graduates measured | $34,174 | Data unavailable | $15,500 |
| University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College OH · Public · 35 graduates measured | $34,174 | Data unavailable | $15,500 |
| American Musical and Dramatic Academy NY · Private, nonprofit · 364 graduates measured | $23,923 | $31,701 | $12,000 |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $21,712 | $30,757 | $17,500 |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York NY · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $21,712 | $30,757 | $17,500 |
| New York Film Academy CA · Private, for-profit · 51 graduates measured | $20,659 | $28,809 | $9,500 |
| Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater NY · Private, nonprofit · 21 graduates measured | $19,231 | Data unavailable | $16,000 |
| Circle in the Square Theatre School NY · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $18,760 | $32,905 | $20,000 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Associate's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College NY · Public · 19 graduates measured | $23,931 | $27,161 | Data unavailable |
| New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts · Private, for-profit · 193 graduates measured | $23,009 | $30,154 | $12,000 |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles · Private, nonprofit · 210 graduates measured | $21,945 | $30,146 | $12,000 |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York NY · Private, nonprofit · 210 graduates measured | $21,945 | $30,146 | $12,000 |
| American Musical and Dramatic Academy NY · Private, nonprofit · 64 graduates measured | $19,092 | Data unavailable | $12,000 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame IN · Private, nonprofit · 43 graduates measured | $62,573 | $64,880 | $19,250 |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato MN · Public · 22 graduates measured | $44,151 | $32,199 | $22,388 |
| Southern Methodist University TX · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $44,127 | $35,844 | $21,500 |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology NY · Public · 27 graduates measured | $43,543 | $41,880 | Data unavailable |
| University of California-Berkeley CA · Public · 31 graduates measured | $43,297 | $55,555 | $9,647 |
| University of Georgia GA · Public · 24 graduates measured | $42,647 | $43,046 | $24,484 |
| The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public · 88 graduates measured | $42,332 | $48,781 | $22,491 |
| Otterbein University OH · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $41,684 | $38,023 | $20,197 |
| University of Miami FL · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $41,119 | $34,667 | $13,500 |
| Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private, nonprofit · 64 graduates measured | $39,921 | $40,073 | $19,881 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania PA · Public · 18 graduates measured | $39,713 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire WI · Public · 19 graduates measured | $39,516 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Sonoma State University CA · Public · 19 graduates measured | $39,456 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Full Sail University FL · Private, for-profit · 73 graduates measured | $38,704 | $44,878 | $19,500 |
| University of Central Missouri MO · Public · 18 graduates measured | $38,681 | $48,179 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts NC · Public · 30 graduates measured | $59,261 | $56,064 | Data unavailable |
| Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private, nonprofit · 26 graduates measured | $57,438 | $52,930 | Data unavailable |
| East Texas A&M University TX · Public · 18 graduates measured | $53,201 | $62,924 | Data unavailable |
| CUNY Brooklyn College NY · Public · 22 graduates measured | $50,100 | $64,923 | Data unavailable |
| The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public · 19 graduates measured | $49,539 | $49,771 | Data unavailable |
| Emerson College MA · Private, nonprofit · 36 graduates measured | $49,506 | $53,881 | Data unavailable |
| University of Idaho ID · Public · 33 graduates measured | $48,037 | $70,605 | Data unavailable |
| Columbia University in the City of New York NY · Private, nonprofit · 57 graduates measured | $46,694 | $57,723 | Data unavailable |
| Pace University NY · Private, nonprofit · 35 graduates measured | $46,521 | $38,903 | Data unavailable |
| Villanova University PA · Private, nonprofit · 19 graduates measured | $46,203 | $49,302 | Data unavailable |
| University of Southern California CA · Private, nonprofit · 39 graduates measured | $45,637 | $53,569 | Data unavailable |
| Florida State University FL · Public · 39 graduates measured | $45,486 | $58,724 | Data unavailable |
| Loyola Marymount University CA · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $45,045 | $52,957 | Data unavailable |
| DePaul University IL · Private, nonprofit · 41 graduates measured | $43,612 | $51,971 | Data unavailable |
| University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public · 23 graduates measured | $43,526 | $59,013 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary | $78,620 | +2.2% | Master's degree |
| Fashion designers | $80,960 | +0.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Set and exhibit designers | $75,240 | +1.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Actors | Data unavailable | 0.0% | Some college, no degree |
| Producers and directors | $90,360 | +4.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Dancers | Data unavailable | +2.2% | No formal educational credential |
| Choreographers | $55,310 | +3.1% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Music directors and composers | $73,710 | +1.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Musicians and singers | Data unavailable | +0.3% | No formal educational credential |
| Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers, all other | Data unavailable | +4.7% | No formal educational credential |
| Writers and authors | $76,910 | -0.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Costume attendants | $50,400 | +5.9% | High school diploma or equivalent |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (11)
- 50.0501 Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
- 50.0502 Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology
- 50.0504 Playwriting and Screenwriting
- 50.0505 Theatre Literature, History and Criticism
- 50.0506 Acting
- 50.0507 Directing and Theatrical Production
- 50.0509 Musical Theatre
- 50.0510 Costume Design
- 50.0511 Comedy Writing and Performance
- 50.0512 Theatre and Dance
- 50.0599 Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other