Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at San Francisco State University

At $23,004 one year out and $27,006 after four years, San Francisco State's theatre program delivers better-than-average earnings—landing in the 68th percentile nationally and outperforming 60% of California theatre programs. That's a meaningful achievement in a notoriously low-earning field where the national median sits at just $20,698. The 17% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates are gaining traction rather than stalling.

The debt picture is equally important here: at $16,250, graduates carry substantially less than the national median of $25,000 for theatre programs. That translates to a 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio—manageable for an arts degree, especially compared to programs that saddle students with $30,000+ in loans. However, even this relatively modest debt means graduates will be making loan payments on earnings that barely exceed $2,000 per month initially.

For a student passionate about theatre, this program offers a more financially viable path than most alternatives. With San Francisco State's 96% admission rate and strong Pell grant population, it serves students who might not access higher-ranked programs while delivering competitive outcomes. Just understand that "competitive" in theatre arts still means starting salaries well below what most degree programs offer—and that's true whether your child attends here or virtually anywhere else.