Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Florida State University

Florida State's theatre program graduates start at $18,431—below both the national median and Florida's median for the field. Among Florida's 24 theatre programs, FSU ranks around the 40th percentile, trailing nearby competitors like UCF ($23,708) and USF ($24,732) by substantial margins. This is notable given FSU's 25% admission rate and strong academic profile; students are entering a selective program but seeing below-average outcomes for the major.

The $21,000 debt load is actually lighter than typical for theatre programs, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.14 is manageable. Graduates do see 18% earnings growth by year four, reaching $21,730, though this still lags behind what peers at other Florida schools earn right out of the gate. The moderate sample size suggests consistent rather than anomalous results.

For parents considering this path: your child would be paying mid-tier state school tuition for below-median theatre program outcomes. If they're serious about theatre as a career, they could find better earning trajectories at other Florida public universities without significantly different costs. The lighter debt is a silver lining, but starting $5,000 behind competitors in an already low-earning field compounds quickly. If theatre is the passion, press them to explain why FSU specifically—the location and connections better matter.