Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Texas State University

Texas State's theatre program outperforms 92% of drama programs nationwide in graduate earnings—a remarkable achievement for a field where $20,000 starting salaries are typical. The $26,045 first-year earnings beat the national median by 26%, and graduates reach $34,279 by year four, putting them ahead of most theatre peers while carrying $21,500 in debt (lower than the $25,000 national average). Within Texas specifically, this program lands at the 60th percentile, trailing UT Austin but competitive with larger state universities.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83 is unusually favorable for performing arts programs, which often struggle with much higher debt burdens relative to income. The 32% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates find traction in their careers, whether in performance, production, or related creative fields. With over 100 graduates in the dataset, these numbers reflect consistent outcomes rather than outliers.

For parents worried about the "starving artist" stereotype, this program presents credible evidence of theatre training leading to viable employment. The combination of manageable debt, above-average starting pay, and solid earnings momentum makes Texas State a standout option if your student is committed to theatre—just recognize they won't match their peers in business or engineering, and the median Texas State graduate still out-earns them significantly.