Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Texas Tech University

Texas Tech's theatre program demonstrates why national rankings can mislead when state context matters more. While this program ranks in the 95th percentile nationally for earnings—nearly $30,000 in the first year versus a national median of just $21,000—it sits at the 60th percentile among Texas programs. That's because theatre graduates in Texas generally earn more than their national peers, and within the state, Texas Tech falls solidly in the middle tier, trailing UT Austin by about $4,300 annually and beating the state median by roughly $4,000.

The financial picture remains manageable regardless of the state context. At $26,500 in debt against nearly $29,000 in first-year earnings, graduates face a debt load below their annual income—a threshold that matters for loan repayment. More encouraging is the 37% earnings growth to nearly $40,000 by year four, suggesting graduates who stick with theatre work find progressively better opportunities. The debt burden is roughly average for this field nationally.

For families comparing Texas theatre programs, this represents a reasonable mid-tier choice: more affordable than UT Austin's prestige but delivering stronger outcomes than most regional alternatives. If your student is committed to theatre and you're keeping debt near this level, the financial fundamentals work—just understand they're not getting a standout Texas program, despite the impressive national percentile.