Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at California State University-Dominguez Hills

CSU Dominguez Hills theatre graduates earn $25,920 their first year—outperforming 80% of California drama programs and landing in the 91st percentile nationally. For context, California's median for this degree is $20,538, and the national figure is just $20,698. With graduation debt of only $13,164 (less than half the program's typical $25,000 burden), students finish with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51, meaning they could theoretically pay off their loans in about six months of gross income. That's exceptionally manageable for an arts degree.

The critical caveat: these numbers come from a small cohort (under 30 graduates), so one or two outliers could skew the picture considerably. Still, the combination of low debt and above-average earnings suggests the program delivers practical training without overloading students financially. The school serves a predominantly working-class population (61% receive Pell grants), yet its theatre graduates outperform most of the state's options, including higher-profile programs.

For parents worried about their child's theatre aspirations, this represents a lower-risk path. Your student won't graduate debt-free, but they'll owe less than typical and earn more than most drama grads in California. Just remember that sample size matters—verify current placement rates and alumni outcomes before committing.