Best colleges for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in Florida
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of South Florida, University of Central Florida and Full Sail University are the top bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Florida by graduate earnings. University of South Florida leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $24,732, College Scorecard. Valencia College, University of Central Florida and Florida State University award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Florida: 106, 104 and 88 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 32 Florida colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft and award 702 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 | University of South Florida Tampa Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,732 | 33 | 77% | — | $26,849 |
| 2 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,708 | 104 | 78% | — | $21,585 |
| 3 | Full Sail University Winter Park Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $20,226 | 81 | 44% | $32,163 | $20,500 |
| 4 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public · Bachelor's degree | $18,452 | 30 | 63% | — | $23,625 |
| 5 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public · Bachelor's degree | $18,431 | 88 | 86% | — | $21,000 |
| 6 | The University of Tampa Tampa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $17,196 | 26 | 64% | $33,070 | $26,000 |
| 7 | University of Florida Gainesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $16,318 | 51 | 91% | — | $15,142 |
| 8 | University of West Florida Pensacola Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $23,852 | 16 | 59% | — | — |
| 9 | Rollins College Winter Park Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $23,664 | 15 | 75% | $31,438 | — |
| 10 | Flagler College Saint Augustine Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $23,099 | 7 | 56% | $28,070 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Florida
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 | Valencia College Orlando Public | 106 | Not reported |
| 2 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public | 104 | $23,708 |
| 3 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public | 88 | $18,431 |
| 4 | Full Sail University Winter Park Private for-profit | 81 | $20,226 |
| 5 | University of Florida Gainesville Public | 51 | $16,318 |
| 6 | University of South Florida Tampa Public | 33 | $24,732 |
| 7 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public | 30 | $18,452 |
| 8 | The University of Tampa Tampa Private not-for-profit | 26 | $17,196 |
| 9 | Florida Southern College Lakeland Private not-for-profit | 18 | $22,336 |
| 10 | University of Miami Coral Gables Private not-for-profit | 18 | $16,561 |
ShowHide the other 22 Florida colleges offering Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of West Florida | Pensacola | Public | 16 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Saint Johns River State College | Palatka | Public | 15 |
| Ringling College of Art and Design | Sarasota | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee | Public | 10 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers | Public | 9 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | West Palm Beach | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Flagler College | Saint Augustine | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| PENSACOLA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE | Pensacola | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Barry University | Miami | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Public | 4 |
| Florida International University | Miami | Public | 4 |
| New College of Florida | Sarasota | Public | 4 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Gulf Coast State College | Panama City | Public | 3 |
| Santa Fe College | Gainesville | Public | 3 |
| Stetson University | DeLand | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Seminole State College of Florida | Sanford | Public | 2 |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Saint Leo University | Saint Leo | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Producers and Directors (SOC 27-2012).
Top skills
What Producers and Directors earn in Florida
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Florida.
Which Florida colleges award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees?+
Valencia College (106 graduates a year), University of Central Florida (104 graduates a year) and Florida State University (88 graduates a year) award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 32 Florida colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
What is the best college for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in Florida?+
By graduate earnings, University of South Florida leads among bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Florida, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $24,732, College Scorecard. University of Central Florida and Full Sail University follow. By degrees awarded, Valencia College is the largest, with 106 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of South Florida tops the list at $24,732. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Producers and Directors earn in Florida?+
The average annual wage for Producers and Directors in Florida is $95,330 (median $79,920), across about 7,160 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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