Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Radford University

Radford's theatre program faces a stark reality: first-year graduates earn $20,666, falling below the state median of $22,716 and landing in just the 40th percentile among Virginia's 33 theatre programs. That $25,000 debt load—completely typical for the field—becomes harder to manage when your starting salary trails Virginia Tech theatre grads by $16,000 and even James Madison by nearly $4,000. A teacher at a regional high school would likely start at similar or higher pay without the performance career uncertainty.

The 44% earnings jump to $29,659 by year four offers some relief, suggesting graduates either find steadier theatrical work or transition into adjacent fields. Still, those mid-career earnings remain modest for someone carrying debt. With Radford's 91% admission rate and Pell grant enrollment of 35%, this program serves students who may have limited financial cushion for the lean early years common in theatre careers.

The critical caveat: these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, so your child's experience could differ significantly. For a student committed to theatre despite financial risk, Radford provides access. But families banking on this degree as a stable investment should recognize that even within Virginia's theatre programs, Radford graduates start near the bottom of the earnings distribution—and those statewide numbers aren't particularly encouraging to begin with.