Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Drew University

Drew University's theatre program shows the dramatic income volatility that defines this field. That first-year earning of $13,710 is striking—roughly $7,000 below New Jersey's already modest state median for theatre graduates. While the program ranks in just the 25th percentile among New Jersey theatre programs, there is a significant catch-up story here: earnings jump 184% to nearly $39,000 by year four, suggesting graduates eventually find their footing in the industry.

The $27,000 debt load sits slightly above both state and national medians for theatre programs, and when paired with that first-year income, creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of nearly 2:1. That's a heavy lift during those early career years when many theatre graduates are working multiple jobs or facing irregular gig-based income. The comparison to Rutgers programs ($24,770 starting) or even Rowan ($18,558) is sobering, particularly given Drew's similar tuition costs.

The small sample size here is crucial—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, one or two outlier career paths could skew these numbers significantly. For a family considering this program, the calculation comes down to whether the Drew experience justifies both the higher initial financial struggle and the uncertainty in the data. If your child is committed to theatre, starting at a community college or choosing a public option like Montclair State might preserve more financial flexibility for the unpredictable early career years ahead.