Wisconsin · Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Best colleges for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in Wisconsin

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Viterbo University are the top bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $20,903, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Viterbo University award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Wisconsin: 38, 29 and 24 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 19 Wisconsin colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft and award 186 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
19
offering CIP 50.05
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
186
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$20,903
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,601
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
63%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Producers and Directors
$79,780
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 6 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 Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point Public · Bachelor's degree
$20,9032251%—$26,000
2University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee Public · Bachelor's degree
$20,4552949%—$27,000
3Viterbo University
La Crosse Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$19,9302468%$20,655$26,906
4Carthage College
Kenosha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$28,727364%$22,844—
5University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Kenosha Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$25,3061140%—$27,000
6University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$24,412459%—$29,776

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

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)
1University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison Public
38Not reported
2University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee Public
29$20,455
3Viterbo University
La Crosse Private not-for-profit
24$19,930
4University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point Public
22$20,903
5University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Kenosha Public
11$25,306
6University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse Public
9Not reported
7University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls Public
8Not reported
8University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire Public
7Not reported
9Lawrence University
Appleton Private not-for-profit
6Not reported
10University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Green Bay Public
6Not reported
Show the other 9 Wisconsin colleges offering Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Carroll UniversityWaukeshaPrivate not-for-profit5
University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkoshPublic5
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewaterPublic4
Carthage CollegeKenoshaPrivate not-for-profit3
Saint Norbert CollegeDe PerePrivate not-for-profit3
Beloit CollegeBeloitPrivate not-for-profit2
Edgewood UniversityMadisonPrivate not-for-profit2
Marquette UniversityMilwaukeePrivate not-for-profit1
Ripon CollegeRiponPrivate 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 Wisconsin

Jobs in Wisconsin
1,600
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$79,780
median $66,390
Best-paying metro
$85,860
Madison, WI

Related careers

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$76,750 avg · 1,840 jobs
Producers and Directors
$79,780 avg · 1,600 jobs
Writers and Authors
$67,210 avg · 710 jobs
Musicians and Singers
— avg · 380 jobs
Actors
— avg · 260 jobs
Music Directors and Composers
$90,360 avg · 200 jobs

Common questions

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

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

University of Wisconsin-Madison (38 graduates a year), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (29 graduates a year) and Viterbo University (24 graduates a year) award the most Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degrees in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 19 Wisconsin colleges offer Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.

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

By graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point leads among bachelor's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $20,903, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Viterbo University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Wisconsin-Madison is the largest, with 38 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point tops the list at $20,903. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Producers and Directors earn in Wisconsin?+

The average annual wage for Producers and Directors in Wisconsin is $79,780 (median $66,390), across about 1,600 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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