Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at New York University

NYU's drama program produces graduates who start modestly but show promising momentum, with earnings jumping 42% from $20,916 in the first year to $29,664 by year four. While the initial salary sits just above national averages for theater programs, the real story is the trajectory—few arts programs see this kind of consistent growth, suggesting NYU's network and training create expanding opportunities over time.

The debt picture is actually more manageable than you might expect from NYU. At $21,762, graduates carry about $3,200 less debt than the typical New York theater program and $3,200 less than the national average. Among New York's 62 theater programs, NYU ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, outperforming most SUNY schools despite the higher tuition you'd typically associate with NYU.

The numbers reflect the reality of starting any arts career—low initial pay that requires patience and persistence. However, NYU's combination of lower-than-expected debt and strong earnings growth creates a more viable path than most theater programs. With robust sample size backing these figures, parents can feel confident these outcomes represent real patterns, not statistical flukes.