Best colleges for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania State University and Point Park University are the top bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Carnegie Mellon University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,967, College Scorecard. Temple University, Point Park University and Carnegie Mellon University award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Pennsylvania: 99, 72 and 68 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 46 Pennsylvania colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft and award 613 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 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,967 | 68 | 94% | $23,803 | $25,000 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,886 | 37 | 86% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Point Park University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,147 | 72 | 59% | $23,704 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $19,269 | 99 | 75% | — | $26,000 |
| 5 | DeSales University Center Valley Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $17,377 | 24 | 72% | $26,990 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Muhlenberg College Allentown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $17,150 | 66 | 82% | $23,111 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,169 | 18 | 66% | — | — |
| 8 | Seton Hill University Greensburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $21,239 | 6 | 67% | $19,887 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $20,818 | 6 | 56% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | Susquehanna University Selinsgrove Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $20,259 | 8 | 82% | $23,620 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 99 | $19,269 |
| 2 | Point Park University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 72 | $23,147 |
| 3 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 68 | $32,967 |
| 4 | Muhlenberg College Allentown Private not-for-profit | 66 | $17,150 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 37 | $27,886 |
| 6 | DeSales University Center Valley Private not-for-profit | 24 | $17,377 |
| 7 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public | 18 | $33,169 |
| 8 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public | 16 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 10 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 15 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 36 Pennsylvania colleges offering Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Public | 14 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Public | 13 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Albright College | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Northampton County Area Community College | Bethlehem | Public | 10 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | Public | 9 |
| Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | Public | 8 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg | Public | 7 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | Public | 6 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Gettysburg College | Gettysburg | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Lycoming College | Williamsport | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Villanova University | Villanova | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Allegheny College | Meadville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| King's College | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lancaster Bible College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Bucks County Community College | Newtown | Public | 2 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | Public | 2 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lafayette College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Marywood University | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Reading Area Community College | Reading | Public | 2 |
| Alvernia University | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Cedar Crest College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Public | 1 |
| Lehigh University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | Johnstown | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Producers and Directors (SOC 27-2012).
Top skills
What Producers and Directors earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees?+
Temple University (99 graduates a year), Point Park University (72 graduates a year) and Carnegie Mellon University (68 graduates a year) award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 46 Pennsylvania colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
What is the best college for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Carnegie Mellon University leads among bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,967, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania State University and Point Park University follow. By degrees awarded, Temple University is the largest, with 99 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Carnegie Mellon University tops the list at $32,967. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Producers and Directors earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Producers and Directors in Pennsylvania is $83,200 (median $75,460), across about 4,200 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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