Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at University of Utah

The University of Utah's theatre program produces outcomes that trail other options within the state—graduates here earn $23,341 less than those from Southern Utah University and even fall below the Utah median for this degree. At $20,701 in first-year earnings, this ranks in just the 40th percentile among Utah theatre programs, meaning six out of ten similar programs in the state deliver better initial salaries.

The debt picture compounds the concern. While $20,316 is manageable in absolute terms, it's high relative to both national theatre programs (80th percentile) and particularly troubling given Utah's lower typical debt load for this field. The near 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face a full year's salary in student loans—a tough starting position for theatre professionals who typically need years to establish stable income streams.

For families committed to theatre education in Utah, this data suggests looking first at Southern Utah or Utah Valley, both of which show significantly stronger earning outcomes. If the U of U offers specific program features—particular faculty, location advantages for Salt Lake City's theatre scene, or production opportunities—those would need to be substantial to justify the earnings gap. The moderate sample size gives reasonable confidence in these numbers, making this a decision that requires clear non-financial reasons to choose Utah over higher-earning alternatives in the state.