Indiana · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Best colleges for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in Indiana

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Notre Dame, Ball State University and Indiana University - Bloomington are the top bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Indiana by graduate earnings. University of Notre Dame leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,531, College Scorecard. Ball State University, Indiana University - Bloomington and University of Notre Dame award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Indiana: 54, 38 and 31 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 23 Indiana colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft and award 221 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…

Institutions
23
offering CIP 50.05
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
221
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$23,748
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$20,836
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
62%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Producers and Directors
$64,940
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 5 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$37,5313195%$19,452$19,000
2Ball State University
Muncie Public · Bachelor's degree
$23,7485462%—$24,984
3Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington Public · Bachelor's degree
$20,8153880%—$22,000
4University of Southern Indiana
Evansville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$27,010548%—$20,937
5University of Evansville
Evansville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$23,4071064%$19,593$23,727

Colleges awarding the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Indiana

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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Ball State University
Muncie Public
54$23,748
2Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington Public
38$20,815
3University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Private not-for-profit
31$37,531
4Purdue University
West Lafayette Public
22Not reported
5University of Evansville
Evansville Private not-for-profit
10$23,407
6Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne Public
10Not reported
7Butler University
Indianapolis Private not-for-profit
9Not reported
8Indiana State University
Terre Haute Public
6Not reported
9Goshen College
Goshen Private not-for-profit
5Not reported
10Indiana University - Indianapolis
Indianapolis Public
5Not reported
Show the other 13 Indiana colleges offering Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of Southern IndianaEvansvillePublic5
Anderson UniversityAndersonPrivate not-for-profit4
Earlham CollegeRichmondPrivate not-for-profit3
University of IndianapolisIndianapolisPrivate not-for-profit3
Indiana University - South BendSouth BendPublic3
DePauw UniversityGreencastlePrivate not-for-profit2
Marian UniversityIndianapolisPrivate not-for-profit2
Indiana Wesleyan University - MarionMarionPrivate not-for-profit2
Taylor UniversityUplandPrivate not-for-profit2
Vincennes UniversityVincennesPublic2
Bethel UniversityMishawakaPrivate not-for-profit1
Indiana University - NorthwestGaryPublic1
Wabash CollegeCrawfordsvillePrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Producers and Directors (SOC 27-2012).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.9%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~12,800
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$83,480
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringWriting

What Producers and Directors earn in Indiana

Jobs in Indiana
1,480
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$64,940
median $59,870
Best-paying metro
$68,290
Evansville, IN

Related careers

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$87,730 avg · 1,920 jobs
Producers and Directors
$64,940 avg · 1,480 jobs
Actors
— avg · 510 jobs
Writers and Authors
$85,430 avg · 450 jobs
Musicians and Singers
— avg · 400 jobs
Music Directors and Composers
$91,240 avg · 200 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Indiana.

Which Indiana colleges award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees?+

Ball State University (54 graduates a year), Indiana University - Bloomington (38 graduates a year) and University of Notre Dame (31 graduates a year) award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Indiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 23 Indiana colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.

What is the best college for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in Indiana?+

By graduate earnings, University of Notre Dame leads among bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Indiana, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,531, College Scorecard. Ball State University and Indiana University - Bloomington follow. By degrees awarded, Ball State University is the largest, with 54 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program in Indiana has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Notre Dame tops the list at $37,531. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Producers and Directors earn in Indiana?+

The average annual wage for Producers and Directors in Indiana is $64,940 (median $59,870), across about 1,480 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).

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in other statesSouth DakotaColoradoWyomingArkansasArizonaOregonTexasOklahoma

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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