Best Colleges for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Drama, Theatre Arts, and Stagecraft programs prepare students for careers in performance, production, and technical theatre. Graduates typically earn around $22,833 annually, though earnings vary significantly based on location and career path. When evaluating programs, students should prioritize hands-on production experience, access to professional-quality facilities, and strong industry connections. Look for schools with active performance seasons that provide multiple opportunities to work on productions. Faculty with professional experience and guest artist programs enhance learning. Studio space, scene shops, and technical equipment quality matter significantly. With 295 schools offering this major, students have numerous options but should focus on programs that balance creative training with practical skills development.

Schools Ranked

$32,920

Avg. Program Earnings

63.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Michigan Technological University Houghton, Michigan	$49,683	68.7%	public
2	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$45,128	87.6%	public
3	CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, New York	$38,829	19.4%	public
4	Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas	$38,289	67.5%	public
5	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	$36,437	96.8%	private-nonprofit
6	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada	$33,281	50.1%	public
7	University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, Colorado	$32,925	47.4%	public
8	University of North Carolina School of the Arts Winston Salem, North Carolina	$32,213	79.2%	public
9	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$31,839	92.9%	public
10	Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, California	$31,839	60.5%	public
11	Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead, Minnesota	$31,670	71.8%	private-nonprofit
12	George Washington University Washington, District of Columbia	$31,305	85.2%	private-nonprofit
13	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$31,305	83.7%	public
14	Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, Colorado	$30,771	29.9%	public
15	Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana	$30,771	67.0%	private-nonprofit
16	University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay, Wisconsin	$30,771	53.1%	public
17	Full Sail University Winter Park, Florida	$30,228	49.6%	private-forprofit
18	Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, Minnesota	$29,685	38.4%	public
19	West Texas A & M University Canyon, Texas	$29,685	47.3%	public
20	Utah Valley University Orem, Utah	$29,685	40.7%	public
21	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, Wisconsin	$29,685	89.3%	public
22	University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, Wisconsin	$29,685	60.9%	public
23	University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado	$29,202	51.3%	public
24	Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania	$29,141	65.9%	public
25	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina	$28,960	92.1%	public