Best Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft institutions in the US, ranked by earnings
Compare 959 U.S. colleges offering Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 50 states.
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 | 6 | 70% | $25,578 | $27,304 |
| 2 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,531 | 21 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,000 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,557 | 26 | 86% | — | $24,637 |
| 4 | University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,852 | 10 | 60% | — | — |
| 5 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,261 | 78 | 89% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,169 | 13 | 66% | — | — |
| 7 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,967 | 79 | 94% | $23,803 | $25,000 |
| 8 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,142 | 27 | 74% | — | — |
| 9 | Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,945 | 27 | 53% | — | $26,000 |
| 10 | Dean College Franklin, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,639 | 23 | 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 | 70 | 65% | — | $24,246 |
| 13 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,933 | 36 | 69% | — | $26,500 |
| 14 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,901 | 14 | 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 | 4 | 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 | 24 | 67% | — | — |
| 19 | Southern Utah University Cedar City, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,335 | 21 | 61% | — | $19,284 |
| 20 | University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,295 | 15 | 51% | $21,745 | — |
| 21 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,010 | 5 | 48% | — | $20,937 |
| 22 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,004 | 15 | 62% | — | $23,500 |
| 23 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,753 | 35 | 75% | — | $21,000 |
| 24 | University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,751 | 18 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 25 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,670 | 23 | 64% | — | $25,250 |
| 26 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,474 | 29 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 27 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,457 | 26 | 91% | — | $15,613 |
| 28 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WY Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,053 | 19 | 59% | — | $21,500 |
| 29 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,048 | 36 | 68% | — | $23,725 |
| 30 | Texas State University San Marcos, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,045 | 148 | 55% | — | $21,500 |
| 31 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,920 | 6 | 43% | — | $13,164 |
| 32 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,810 | 23 | 75% | — | $26,637 |
| 33 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,754 | 13 | 69% | $19,944 | $24,125 |
| 34 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,499 | 24 | 71% | — | — |
| 35 | Portland State University Portland, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,352 | 7 | 53% | — | $39,773 |
| 36 | University of Wisconsin - Parkside Kenosha, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,306 | 6 | 40% | — | $27,000 |
| 37 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,301 | 61 | 68% | — | $19,606 |
| 38 | University of Oregon Eugene, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,264 | 11 | 72% | — | — |
| 39 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,083 | 19 | 49% | $17,436 | $27,000 |
| 40 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,070 | 110 | 75% | — | $25,980 |
| 41 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,059 | 25 | 57% | — | — |
| 42 | Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,050 | 17 | 40% | — | $22,658 |
| 43 | West Texas A & M University Canyon, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,036 | 14 | 55% | — | $22,328 |
| 44 | Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,933 | 7 | 50% | — | — |
| 45 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,871 | 15 | 68% | — | — |
| 46 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus Durham, NH Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,830 | 24 | 76% | — | $27,000 |
| 47 | Rutgers University - Camden Camden, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,770 | 7 | 67% | — | $23,000 |
| 48 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,770 | 37 | 84% | — | $23,000 |
| 49 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,770 | 1 | 64% | — | $23,000 |
| 50 | University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,761 | 65 | 51% | — | $24,000 |
Offered across 50 states
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
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.
Tools & technology
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.
Related programs
Other programs in the same field of study.
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