Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Ouachita Baptist University

Theatre graduates from Ouachita Baptist University earn $18,350 their first year out—roughly $3,500 below the state median for Arkansas theatre programs and $2,300 below the national median. This is concerning given Arkansas's already modest earnings for theatre degrees. With $26,000 in typical debt, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.42, meaning they owe 17 months' worth of their first year's salary. Even in a field known for difficult early-career economics, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile among Arkansas theatre programs.

For context, University of Arkansas theatre graduates start at $25,499—nearly $7,000 more annually while carrying similar debt loads. That difference compounds significantly over a career. The small sample size here (under 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could shift with more data, but they align with a pattern of below-average outcomes both statewide and nationally.

If your child is committed to theatre, this program's debt burden relative to realistic starting pay creates immediate financial stress. Theatre careers often require years of building experience at low pay, making that $26,000 debt particularly burdensome when you're earning $18,000. Unless your family can significantly reduce borrowing through scholarships or other aid, stronger-performing Arkansas options exist at similar price points.