Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at University of California-Davis

UC Davis's theatre program shows the classic challenge of arts degrees in sharp relief: graduates start at just $19,398—slightly below both national and California medians—but more than double their earnings by year four to $35,213. That four-year figure actually surpasses several CSU theatre programs and gets you halfway to what Chapman grads earn, suggesting the UC degree eventually finds its value.

The financial picture has one bright spot: at $13,000 in debt, graduates owe roughly half what theatre students typically carry nationally and well below California's median. This makes the lean early years more manageable—the debt equals about eight months of first-year salary rather than the crushing burden that derails many arts graduates. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year.

For parents, the question is whether your child can weather those first few years on $19,000 while building their career. The 82% earnings growth suggests many graduates do find their footing, but that fourth-year salary of $35,000 is still modest by any standard. If your child is passionate about theatre and you can provide financial support during the lean startup years, the low debt and UC credential offer a reasonable foundation. If they need to be financially independent immediately after graduation, they should have a clear plan for that first year.