Best colleges for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Chapman University, San Francisco State University and California State University - Sacramento are the top bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in California by graduate earnings. Chapman University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $24,644, College Scorecard. University of Southern California, Loyola Marymount University and Moorpark College award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in California: 200, 159 and 136 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 132 California colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft and award 3,086 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program focuses on the visual and performing arts, providing students with a comprehensive education in various aspects of theatre production and performance. This program is ideal for individuals…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $24,644 | 101 | 82% | $42,965 | $22,500 |
| 2 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,004 | 23 | 50% | — | $16,250 |
| 3 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,000 | 24 | 56% | — | $16,221 |
| 4 | California Institute of the Arts Valencia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $22,673 | 84 | 67% | $42,045 | $27,000 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,610 | 33 | 93% | — | $15,112 |
| 6 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $21,869 | 159 | 79% | $36,488 | $23,250 |
| 7 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $21,638 | 21 | 75% | — | $19,500 |
| 8 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $21,473 | 200 | 92% | $26,873 | $12,000 |
| 9 | Academy of Art University San Francisco Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $20,798 | 30 | 34% | $40,294 | $31,000 |
| 10 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree | $20,538 | 58 | 76% | — | $15,000 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Film Academy Burbank Private for-profit · Certificate | $15,355 | 179 | 68% | $46,505 | $9,500 |
| 2 | American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $14,335 | 87 | 78% | $41,802 | $12,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 200 | $21,473 |
| 2 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 159 | $21,869 |
| 3 | Moorpark College Moorpark Public | 136 | Not reported |
| 4 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public | 103 | $18,182 |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 102 | $20,461 |
| 6 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit | 101 | $24,644 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Film School Hollywood Private for-profit | 95 | Not reported |
| 8 | California Institute of the Arts Valencia Private not-for-profit | 84 | $22,673 |
| 9 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 81 | $19,673 |
| 10 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 78 | $18,026 |
ShowHide the other 122 California colleges offering Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Producers and Directors (SOC 27-2012).
Top skills
What Producers and Directors earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees?+
University of Southern California (200 graduates a year), Loyola Marymount University (159 graduates a year) and Moorpark College (136 graduates a year) award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 132 California colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
What is the best college for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in California?+
By graduate earnings, Chapman University leads among bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $24,644, College Scorecard. San Francisco State University and California State University - Sacramento follow. By degrees awarded, University of Southern California is the largest, with 200 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Chapman University tops the list at $24,644. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Producers and Directors earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Producers and Directors in California is $155,750 (median $129,790), across about 34,110 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program?+
The Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program focuses on the visual and performing arts, providing students with a comprehensive education in various aspects of theatre production and performance. This program is ideal for individuals…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Producers and Directors?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 12,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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