Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at New York Film Academy

The New York Film Academy's drama program carries a troubling combination: graduates earn barely above minimum wage initially ($18,181) while shouldering $27,000 in debt—nearly 50% more debt than they'll make their first year out. While earnings do climb to $23,826 by year four (a 31% gain), that's still poverty-level income in the Los Angeles area, where the cost of living far outpaces these wages.

The numbers become particularly stark when you compare them to California alternatives. This program sits in just the 40th percentile among California theatre programs, meaning most in-state options deliver better outcomes. The debt burden is especially concerning—at $27,000, it's 57% higher than the typical California theatre program ($17,235). Meanwhile, programs at Cal State Dominguez Hills and Chapman University are producing graduates who earn $25,000+ within a year of graduation, not four years later.

Here's the practical reality: at these earning levels, your child will struggle to make minimum loan payments while covering basic living expenses in Southern California. The annual payment on $27,000 in federal loans exceeds $3,000—difficult to manage on $23,826 annual income. If your child is committed to theatre, they'd be better served by California's public universities, which offer similar training at dramatically lower cost with marginally better employment outcomes.