Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Auburn University

Auburn's theater program produces graduates earning just under $21,000 their first year—slightly above both the national and Alabama medians for this degree. Among Alabama's 15 theater programs, it ranks in the 60th percentile, placing it in the middle of the pack behind UAB ($26,670) but ahead of larger programs like Alabama ($19,543). The debt load of $23,141 is actually lower than typical for this field, where the national median sits at $25,000.

The 1.11 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe about one year's salary, which is manageable compared to many arts programs. However, with first-year earnings around $21,000, you're looking at tight budgets early on—that's below the poverty line for a family of two. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly year to year, so don't treat them as gospel.

For parents, the question is whether your child has clear plans beyond entry-level theater work. If they're passionate about technical theater, arts administration, or using this as a stepping stone to graduate work, Auburn provides solid training at a relatively selective institution without crushing debt. But if the plan is simply "figure it out after graduation," $21,000 starting salaries leave little margin for error. This works best for students with specific career goals and realistic expectations about early-career theater earnings.