Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Augustana College

Theatre graduates from Augustana College face a challenging financial reality: first-year earnings of $20,326 barely cover basic living expenses, while carrying nearly $27,000 in debt. This combination puts graduates behind most of their Illinois peers—at the 40th percentile statewide—and in a weaker position than programs at Illinois State ($28,958) or Southern Illinois ($27,004). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.33 means graduates owe more than a year's salary, making loan repayment stretch longer than many theatre professionals can sustain while establishing their careers.

However, the debt load itself is actually below average for theatre programs nationally, ranking in the 26th percentile. Augustana's financial aid appears to keep borrowing in check, even if post-graduation earnings remain modest. The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means a few outcomes could swing these numbers significantly in either direction.

For families considering this program, understand that theatre is inherently a lower-earning field early on—national medians hover around $20,700—but Augustana's version underperforms even those modest benchmarks. If your child is committed to theatre and Augustana specifically, the controlled debt is a plus. But if they're open to other Illinois options, several public universities deliver higher starting salaries that would make the career transition more manageable financially.