Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

UNC Charlotte's theatre program lands below both national and state medians, with first-year earnings of $18,052 trailing not just elite programs like UNC Chapel Hill ($26,457) but also mid-tier options like Western Carolina ($21,824). While 40th percentile within North Carolina might sound middle-of-the-pack, it's worth noting that even the state median ($21,112) represents a challenging financial picture for theatre graduates. The $26,000 debt load is typical for the field, but paired with these earnings, it creates a debt-to-income ratio that will stretch a graduate's budget considerably.

Theatre arts rarely leads to strong immediate earnings—that's true nationally—but this program's position in the bottom quartile nationally (25th percentile) suggests graduates here face steeper challenges than most. The gap between these outcomes and what students achieve at nearby UNC Chapel Hill or Elon is substantial enough to matter. For a family weighing options, these numbers mean anticipating several years of tight finances post-graduation, likely requiring supplemental income or family support while your student establishes their career.

If your child is passionate about theatre and UNC Charlotte offers the right artistic training and connections, that may justify the investment. But financially, this represents a difficult starting point even by the modest standards of drama programs. Consider whether in-state alternatives like East Carolina or the UNC School of the Arts might offer similar experiences with slightly better earning trajectories.