Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at San Diego State University

SDSU's theatre program produces graduates earning just over $20,500 in their first year—essentially matching both national and California medians for the field. What sets this program apart, however, is graduating students with 40% less debt than the typical California theatre major. At $15,000, this is among the lowest debt loads you'll find for this degree anywhere in the country, ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of comparable programs leave students with more debt).

The real question is whether theatre training at any price makes financial sense. That first-year salary translates to roughly $10 per hour, and unlike many degree programs, theatre earnings don't typically see dramatic increases over time. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 means your child would owe about nine months of gross income—manageable compared to other theatre programs, but challenging on an absolute basis for someone likely working gig-based or part-time theatre work while supplementing with service industry jobs.

If your child is committed to pursuing theatre, SDSU offers a relatively low-risk path into the field. The program performs solidly among California options (60th percentile), and the modest debt load won't become an anchor if they later pivot careers. But this data should prompt an honest family conversation about financial support during the early career years and realistic backup plans for income stability.