Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at University of Arizona

University of Arizona's theatre program dramatically outperforms the national landscape—graduates earn $26,048 in their first year, ranking in the 92nd percentile nationally and exceeding the typical drama degree holder by $5,000. The debt load of $23,725 is actually below Arizona's state median for this major, resulting in a manageable 0.91 debt-to-earnings ratio. Among Arizona's four theatre programs, this sits firmly in the middle at the 60th percentile, just ahead of ASU's larger program.

The complication arrives in year four, when median earnings slip to $24,612—a 5% decline that's common in performing arts as graduates cycle between performance work, teaching gigs, and day jobs. This isn't catastrophic, but it does mean the strong starting position doesn't translate into obvious upward momentum. Still, even at year four, graduates remain well above the $20,698 national median for theatre majors.

For a parent weighing this investment, the math works better than most arts degrees: your child will likely out-earn three-quarters of theatre graduates nationally while carrying reasonable debt. The Arizona job market appears supportive enough to sustain these earnings. Just understand that "success" in this field looks different—steady work rather than climbing a corporate ladder.