Arts, design and media
Media Programming Directors
- Median pay
- $90,360
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
ProgramsVisual and Performing Arts
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
CIP50.05
862 colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 862
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $40,053
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $22,353
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 150
- Associate's
- 251
- Bachelor's
- 862
- Master's
- 179
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 3
- Doctoral
- 38
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 22
What it covers
About Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
A program that focuses on the general study of dramatic works and their performance. Includes instruction in major works of dramatic literature, dramatic styles and types, and the principles of organizing and producing full live or filmed productions.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 50.05.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 50.05.
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
- Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology
- Playwriting and Screenwriting
- Theatre Literature, History and Criticism
- Acting
- Directing and Theatrical Production
- Musical Theatre
- Costume Design
- Comedy Writing and Performance
- Theatre and Dance
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 150 | $29,7834 yrs after · 4 colleges | $15,0855 colleges |
| Associate's | 251 | $28,7284 yrs after · 4 colleges | $12,0004 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 862 | $40,0534 yrs after · 252 colleges | $22,353202 colleges |
| Master's | 179 | $52,9304 yrs after · 41 colleges | $66,91623 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 38 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 22 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
University of Notre Dame-South Bend
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit · 36 graduates
$64,880
debt $19,000
- 2
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public · 16 graduates
$56,823
debt not reported
- 3
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public · 36 graduates
$55,555
debt $9,273
- 4
Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit · 16 graduates
$54,950
debt $24,250
- 5
Oxford, OH · Public · 11 graduates
$54,215
debt not reported
- 6
Cincinnati, OH · Public · 51 graduates
$54,000
debt $22,331
- 7
Lakeland, FL · Private nonprofit · 19 graduates
$51,925
debt $27,000
- 8
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · Public · 15 graduates
$51,775
debt not reported
- 9
Orange, CA · Private nonprofit · 90 graduates
$51,611
debt $21,875
- 10
Western Connecticut State University
Danbury, CT · Public · 29 graduates
$50,955
debt $26,000
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Arts, design and media
Media Technical Directors/Managers
- Median pay
- $90,360
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Coordination
- Monitoring
Arts, design and media
Producers and Directors
- Median pay
- $90,360
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Arts, design and media
Talent Directors
- Median pay
- $90,360
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Arts, design and media
Fashion Designers
- Median pay
- $80,960
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
Education
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $78,620
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Master's degree
- Speaking
- Instructing
- Learning Strategies
Arts, design and media
Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
- Median pay
- $76,910
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
Arts, design and media
Writers and Authors
- Median pay
- $76,910
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
More in Visual and Performing Arts
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
How many colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at these degree levels: certificate (150 colleges), associate's (251 colleges), bachelor's (862 colleges), master's (179 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (3 colleges), doctoral (38 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (22 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft earn $40,053 a year four years after finishing, across 252 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates earn the most?
University of Notre Dame-South Bend reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: $64,880 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.