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

UC Irvine's theatre program starts graduates at roughly $20,500—typical for drama majors but landing in just the 40th percentile among California's 64 theatre programs. That's notably below what graduates earn at Cal State Dominguez Hills ($25,920) or San Francisco State ($23,004), despite UCI's selective 26% admission rate. The real concern is that even four years out, median earnings reach only $25,680, still trailing most peer programs in the state.

The financial picture has one bright spot: at $17,862, student debt sits slightly below the California median for theatre programs and well below the national average of $25,000. That manageable debt load means the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87 isn't catastrophic, though graduates are still looking at a challenging early career period. The 26% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests some upward trajectory, but the ceiling remains low compared to what theatre graduates achieve elsewhere in California.

For families considering this program, understand that you're paying UC tuition for outcomes that lag behind several Cal State alternatives. If your child is committed to theatre, the lower debt provides some cushion, but Saint Mary's graduates earn nearly double at career start. This works if your student has strong financial support and views the degree as personal enrichment rather than career preparation, but it's a tough proposition if they're counting on self-sufficiency after graduation.