Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at University of Georgia

UGA's theatre program starts graduates at just over $20,700—roughly matching the national median but notably higher than most Georgia programs. More importantly, the 71% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates who stay in the field are finding their footing, even if that first year is financially tight. Among theatre programs in Georgia, this one ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, outperforming the state median despite the limited sample size.

The debt picture here is surprisingly manageable. At under $20,000, UGA theatre graduates carry about $6,000 less debt than the typical theatre student nationally and significantly less than most Georgia programs. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.93 means first-year income roughly covers the debt load—an unusual position for performing arts graduates. By year four, when earnings reach $35,000, the debt burden becomes much more reasonable.

The major caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 recent graduates, so individual career paths will vary widely in theatre's notoriously unpredictable job market. But if your child is committed to performing arts, UGA offers a credible program at a flagship institution without the debt load that typically defines theatre degrees. The combination of low borrowing and real earnings growth makes this one of the less risky paths into a challenging field.