Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at University of North Carolina School of the Arts

UNC School of the Arts graduates start modestly but show unusually strong earnings growth for theatre majors, with salaries jumping 33% to reach $28,178 by year four. That fourth-year figure matters because it outpaces the program's $24,592 median debt, suggesting graduates can reasonably manage repayment once they gain experience. Among North Carolina's 36 theatre programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile—solidly middle-of-the-pack for the state, though notably trailing UNC Chapel Hill's $26,457.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.16 is actually manageable for performing arts, where first-year salaries typically lag other fields. What makes this program distinctive is the trajectory: while many theatre graduates see flat or declining earnings, UNCSA students appear to build momentum in the field. The selective 33% admission rate and specialized training seem to translate into better staying power in the industry than typical liberal arts theatre programs.

For parents of serious theatre students, this represents a pragmatic middle ground—not the highest starting salaries in the state, but reasonable debt paired with genuine career progression. The key is understanding that year-one earnings will be lean, requiring either parental support or supplemental income during that initial period.