Best institutions to study Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Compare 945 U.S. colleges offering Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 51 states.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs report a median of $20,818 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 50.05 and the Producers and Directors occupation (BLS SOC).
About Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs
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 passionate about storytelling, acting, directing, and technical production, offering a blend of creative and practical skills.
Students in this program will develop core skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers a range of topics, including acting, directing, playwriting, and technical theatre design, equipping graduates with a solid foundation for a career in the performing arts.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,160 | 2 | 70% | $25,578 | $27,304 |
| 2 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,531 | 31 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,000 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,557 | 23 | 86% | — | $24,637 |
| 4 | University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,852 | 6 | 60% | — | — |
| 5 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,261 | 89 | 89% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,169 | 18 | 66% | — | — |
| 7 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,967 | 68 | 94% | $23,803 | $25,000 |
| 8 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,142 | 34 | 74% | — | — |
| 9 | Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,945 | 35 | 53% | — | $26,000 |
| 10 | Dean College Franklin, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,639 | 14 | 54% | $28,874 | $27,000 |
| 11 | Manhattan School of Music New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,400 | 23 | 78% | $53,742 | $27,000 |
| 12 | Illinois State University Normal, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,958 | 62 | 65% | — | $24,246 |
| 13 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,933 | 33 | 69% | — | $26,500 |
| 14 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,901 | 16 | 32% | — | $28,281 |
| 15 | Carthage College Kenosha, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,727 | 3 | 64% | $22,844 | — |
| 16 | Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,601 | 7 | 77% | $21,607 | — |
| 17 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,236 | 64 | 61% | — | $25,000 |
| 18 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,172 | 19 | 67% | — | — |
| 19 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,886 | 37 | 86% | — | $27,000 |
| 20 | Southern Utah University Cedar City, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,335 | 25 | 61% | — | $19,284 |
| 21 | University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,295 | 4 | 51% | $21,745 | — |
| 22 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,010 | 5 | 48% | — | $20,937 |
| 23 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,004 | 12 | 62% | — | $23,500 |
| 24 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,753 | 31 | 75% | — | $21,000 |
| 25 | University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,751 | 27 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 26 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,670 | 22 | 64% | — | $25,250 |
| 27 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,474 | 31 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 28 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,457 | 18 | 91% | — | $15,613 |
| 29 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WY Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,053 | 10 | 59% | — | $21,500 |
| 30 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,048 | 35 | 68% | — | $23,725 |
| 31 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,045 | 198 | 55% | — | $21,500 |
| 32 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,920 | 4 | 43% | — | $13,164 |
| 33 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,810 | 22 | 75% | — | $26,637 |
| 34 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,754 | 23 | 69% | $19,944 | $24,125 |
| 35 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,499 | 15 | 71% | — | — |
| 36 | Portland State University Portland, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,352 | 13 | 53% | — | $39,773 |
| 37 | University of Wisconsin - Parkside Kenosha, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,306 | 11 | 40% | — | $27,000 |
| 38 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,301 | 42 | 68% | — | $19,606 |
| 39 | University of Oregon Eugene, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,264 | 13 | 72% | — | — |
| 40 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,083 | 7 | 49% | $17,436 | $27,000 |
| 41 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,070 | 107 | 75% | — | $25,980 |
| 42 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,059 | 31 | 57% | — | — |
| 43 | Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,050 | 21 | 40% | — | $22,658 |
| 44 | West Texas A & M University Canyon, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,036 | 23 | 55% | — | $22,328 |
| 45 | Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,933 | 13 | 50% | — | — |
| 46 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,871 | 14 | 68% | — | — |
| 47 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus Durham, NH Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,830 | 23 | 76% | — | $27,000 |
| 48 | Rutgers University - Camden Camden, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,770 | 7 | 67% | — | $23,000 |
| 49 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,770 | 49 | 84% | — | $23,000 |
| 50 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,770 | 3 | 64% | — | $23,000 |
Offered across 51 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-2012, Producers and Directors, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program can pursue various careers in the performing arts sector, with a projected job growth rate of 4.9% and approximately 12,800 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $83,480, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree for entry-level positions.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 50.05.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 50.05 (Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft) maps to 12 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1121 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 27-1022 | Fashion Designers |
| 27-1027 | Set and Exhibit Designers |
| 27-2011 | Actors |
| 27-2012 | Producers and Directorsprimary |
| 27-2031 | Dancers |
| 27-2032 | Choreographers |
| 27-2041 | Music Directors and Composers |
| 27-2042 | Musicians and Singers |
| 27-2099 | Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other |
| 27-3043 | Writers and Authors |
| 39-3092 | Costume Attendants |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
- Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
- Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
- Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
- Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.
- Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
Concentrations within Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, GeneralCIP 50.0501
A program that focuses on the general study of dramatic works and their performance
- Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and TechnologyCIP 50.0502
A program that prepares individuals to apply artistic, technical and dramatic principles and techniques to the communication of dramatic information, ideas, moods, and feelings through technical theat
- Playwriting and ScreenwritingCIP 50.0504
A program that focuses on the principles and techniques for communicating dramatic information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the composition of creative written works for the theatre, film, and/
- Theatre Literature, History and CriticismCIP 50.0505
A program that focuses on the study of the history, literature, theory, and analysis of written plays, theatrical productions, and theatre methods and organization
- ActingCIP 50.0506
A program that prepares individuals to communicate dramatic information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the achievement of naturalistic and believable behavior in imaginary circumstances
- Directing and Theatrical ProductionCIP 50.0507
A program that prepares individuals to manage the planning, design, preparation, and production of plays and other theatrical entertainment programs
- Musical TheatreCIP 50.0509
A program that focuses on the principles and techniques for integrating theatre, music, and dance into a unified production
- Costume DesignCIP 50.0510
A program that prepares individuals to design and select costumes for characters in theatre and the performing arts and to serve as part of a production team
- Comedy Writing and PerformanceCIP 50.0511
A program that focuses on the historical, cultural, and theoretical dimensions of comedy as an art form, and the writing, performance, and production of comedy
- Theatre and DanceCIP 50.0512
A program of study that focuses on integrating the studies of dance and theatre arts to provide perspectives in all facets of production, performance, and critical engagement
- Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, OtherCIP 50.0599
Any instructional program in dramatic/theatre arts and stagecraft not listed above.
Common questions
What specializations are available in this program?+
Specializations include Acting, Directing, Playwriting, Technical Theatre, Musical Theatre, and more.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, communication, and writing.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.9%.
What level of education is typically required?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for entry-level positions in this field.
How much do Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates earn?+
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates report median earnings of $20,818 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Producers and Directors occupation pays about $113,300 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft?+
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft maps to CIP 50.05 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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