Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Georgia Southern University

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell a sobering story: Georgia Southern's theatre program graduates earn just $16,586 in their first year—$4,600 less than typical Georgia theatre graduates and $2,000 below what peers earn at Columbus State or Piedmont. That 12th percentile national ranking isn't a typo; it reflects genuinely low starting outcomes even by theatre standards.

The debt load compounds the challenge. At $27,000, it's slightly above state norms for this program, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.63—meaning graduates owe more than 1.6 years of their first-year salary. While earnings do climb to $18,549 by year four, that still trails the Georgia median. Theatre is notoriously difficult as a financial proposition anywhere, but these graduates appear to be struggling more than peers at other Georgia institutions with similar access (Georgia Southern admits 90% of applicants, so selectivity isn't protecting some comparative advantage).

For families banking on Georgia Southern's lower in-state tuition to offset theatre's financial risks, these outcomes suggest that strategy may not be working. If your student is committed to theatre, programs like Kennesaw State or UGA show meaningfully better early earnings while keeping debt comparable. The limited sample means a few graduates could dramatically shift these averages, but until more data proves otherwise, this looks like a program where passion must truly outweigh financial return.