Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at New Mexico State University-Main Campus

New Mexico State's theater program warrants serious hesitation. While graduates here carry less debt than typical theater majors ($17,009 versus $25,000 nationally), they're earning barely above minimum wage four years out—just $15,599, down from an already-low $17,980 at graduation. That 13% earnings decline is the opposite trajectory you want to see from a bachelor's degree.

The state context offers little reassurance. Yes, this ranks at the 60th percentile among New Mexico's four theater programs, but that's largely because the state median sits at $17,972—meaning theater graduates across New Mexico struggle with similar earnings challenges. Being "above average" in a struggling field doesn't change the fundamental math: your child would be making roughly $7.50 per hour four years after graduation.

Keep in mind these figures come from a small cohort (under 30 graduates), so individual outcomes could vary significantly. But even accounting for statistical noise, the pattern is clear: this degree leaves graduates with nearly a full year's salary in debt while their earning power actually decreases over time. Unless your family can absorb the cost without borrowing, or your child has specific connections in New Mexico's limited entertainment industry, this represents a substantial financial risk for an uncertain return.