Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at University of Illinois Chicago

UIC's theatre program starts graduates at $14,938—barely above minimum wage—but shows a 46% jump to nearly $22,000 by year four. That's notable earnings growth in a field where most programs stay flat, yet even after this climb, you're still earning less than the typical Illinois theatre graduate made on day one. At just the 25th percentile statewide, this program significantly underperforms peers like Illinois State ($29,000) and Southern Illinois-Carbondale ($27,000).

The $21,238 debt load is actually lower than both state and national medians for theatre programs, which offers some relief. But when your child's starting salary barely covers that debt amount, even manageable borrowing becomes precarious. Half of UIC's students receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from families where six-figure parent contributions aren't possible—making that first year's poverty-level wage especially difficult to weather.

Theatre is inherently risky financially, but this program combines unusually low starting earnings with a slow climb to reach what others achieve immediately. If your child is set on this path at UIC, they'll need either substantial family support to get through those lean early years, or a realistic plan for supplemental income while building their career. The trajectory improves, but it starts from a concerning baseline that will test both finances and resolve.