Texas · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Best colleges for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in Texas

Ranked by graduate earnings

The University of Texas at Austin, Stephen F Austin State University and Texas Tech University are the top bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Texas by graduate earnings. The University of Texas at Austin leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,261, College Scorecard. Texas State University, The University of Texas at Austin and University of North Texas award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Texas: 198, 89 and 64 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 63 Texas colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft and award 967 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
63
offering CIP 50.05
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
967
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$26,474
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
16
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,152
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
46%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Producers and Directors
$85,080
BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

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
1The University of Texas at Austin
Austin Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,2618989%—$26,000
2Stephen F Austin State University
Nacogdoches Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,9453553%—$26,000
3Texas Tech University
Lubbock Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,9333369%—$26,500
4University of North Texas
Denton Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,2366461%—$25,000
5The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington Public · Bachelor's degree
$26,4743154%—$27,000
6Texas State University
San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree
$26,04519855%—$21,500
7Texas A & M University - Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi Public · Bachelor's degree
$25,0502140%—$22,658
8West Texas A & M University
Canyon Public · Bachelor's degree
$25,0362355%—$22,328
9Southern Methodist University
Dallas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$23,8312584%$33,246$24,000
10Sam Houston State University
Huntsville Public · Bachelor's degree
$21,8584155%—$22,250

Top certificate or associate program

Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.

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
1KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts
Dallas Private for-profit · Associate degree
$22,8452881%$24,269$17,316

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

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)
1Texas State University
San Marcos Public
198$26,045
2The University of Texas at Austin
Austin Public
89$33,261
3University of North Texas
Denton Public
64$28,236
4Sam Houston State University
Huntsville Public
41$21,858
5University of Houston
Houston Public
39Not reported
6Stephen F Austin State University
Nacogdoches Public
35$29,945
7Texas Tech University
Lubbock Public
33$28,933
8The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington Public
31$26,474
9Texas Christian University
Fort Worth Private not-for-profit
31$21,221
10Baylor University
Waco Private not-for-profit
26$20,267
Show the other 53 Texas colleges offering Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic ArtsDallasPrivate for-profit28
The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburgPublic25
Southern Methodist UniversityDallasPrivate not-for-profit25
West Texas A & M UniversityCanyonPublic23
Texas A & M University - Corpus ChristiCorpus ChristiPublic21
College of the MainlandTexas CityPublic19
Texas Woman's UniversityDentonPublic18
Abilene Christian UniversityAbilenePrivate not-for-profit16
Austin Community College DistrictAustinPublic15
East Texas A&M UniversityCommercePublic15
Lone Star College SystemThe WoodlandsPublic14
Saint Edward's UniversityAustinPrivate not-for-profit13
Tyler Junior CollegeTylerPublic11
Houston City CollegeHoustonPublic10
Texas Southern UniversityHoustonPublic9
Navarro CollegeCorsicanaPublic7
The University of Texas at El PasoEl PasoPublic7
Amarillo CollegeAmarilloPublic6
Howard CollegeBig SpringPublic6
Trinity UniversitySan AntonioPrivate not-for-profit6
University of DallasIrvingPrivate not-for-profit5
Angelo State UniversitySan AngeloPublic4
Blinn College DistrictBrenhamPublic4
Del Mar CollegeCorpus ChristiPublic4
El Paso Community CollegeEl PasoPublic4
University of the Incarnate WordSan AntonioPrivate not-for-profit4
Paris Junior CollegeParisPublic4
Southwestern UniversityGeorgetownPrivate not-for-profit4
Tarleton State UniversityStephenvillePublic4
Texas Lutheran UniversitySeguinPrivate not-for-profit4
Texas Wesleyan UniversityFort WorthPrivate not-for-profit4
Central Texas CollegeKilleenPublic3
Galveston CollegeGalvestonPublic3
Houston Christian UniversityHoustonPrivate not-for-profit3
Lamar UniversityBeaumontPublic3
Midwestern State UniversityWichita FallsPublic3
Western Texas CollegeSnyderPublic3
South Texas CollegeMcAllenPublic3
Angelina CollegeLufkinPublic2
Austin CollegeShermanPrivate not-for-profit2
Hill CollegeHillsboroPublic2
University of St ThomasHoustonPrivate not-for-profit2
Temple CollegeTemplePublic2
Alvin Community CollegeAlvinPublic1
Concordia University TexasAustinPrivate not-for-profit1
East Texas Baptist UniversityMarshallPrivate not-for-profit1
Grayson CollegeDenisonPublic1
Howard Payne UniversityBrownwoodPrivate not-for-profit1
Lamar State College - Port ArthurPort ArthurPublic1
McMurry UniversityAbilenePrivate not-for-profit1
Odessa CollegeOdessaPublic1
Schreiner UniversityKerrvillePrivate not-for-profit1
Southwest College for the DeafBig SpringPublic1

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 Texas

Jobs in Texas
6,610
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$85,080
median $71,710
Best-paying metro
$97,300
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX

Related careers

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$84,800 avg · 6,730 jobs
Producers and Directors
$85,080 avg · 6,610 jobs
Writers and Authors
$81,210 avg · 2,320 jobs
Actors
— avg · 2,160 jobs
Fashion Designers
$54,600 avg · 1,850 jobs
Musicians and Singers
— avg · 1,430 jobs

Common questions

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

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

Texas State University (198 graduates a year), The University of Texas at Austin (89 graduates a year) and University of North Texas (64 graduates a year) award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 63 Texas colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.

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

By graduate earnings, The University of Texas at Austin leads among bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,261, College Scorecard. Stephen F Austin State University and Texas Tech University follow. By degrees awarded, Texas State University is the largest, with 198 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Texas at Austin tops the list at $33,261. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Producers and Directors earn in Texas?+

The average annual wage for Producers and Directors in Texas is $85,080 (median $71,710), across about 6,610 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 DakotaColoradoWyomingArkansasArizonaOregonOklahomaNew Hampshire

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.

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card