Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Adelphi University

At under $15,000 in first-year earnings, Adelphi's theatre program produces some of the lowest starting salaries we track—placing graduates at the 5th percentile nationally. Even within New York's competitive theatre market, this ranks only at the 25th percentile, well below what graduates from CUNY Hunter or SUNY Buffalo achieve. The $24,125 in debt might seem manageable in absolute terms, but it represents more than 18 months of first-year income, making early financial independence extremely difficult.

The 37% earnings jump to $20,325 by year four offers some hope, though that figure still falls short of what typical theatre graduates earn nationally right out of school. Compare this trajectory to CUNY Hunter, where graduates start at $25,000—giving them both lower debt and a $10,000 head start on building financial stability. For families paying private school tuition at Adelphi when strong public alternatives exist in-state, the return on investment becomes particularly questionable.

If your child is committed to theatre, the debt load here isn't catastrophic, but the earning outcomes suggest either limited industry connections or graduates struggling to find full-time performing arts work. Given that Manhattan School of Music and several SUNY schools produce significantly stronger results at comparable or lower cost, Adelphi should be a fallback option at best—and only if they offer substantial financial aid beyond the federal loan package.