Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

UW-Stevens Point's theatre program lands squarely in the middle nationally but trails most Wisconsin competitors—ranking in just the 40th percentile among state programs despite relatively manageable debt. First-year graduates earn about $20,900, which drops to $19,500 by year four. That downward trajectory stands out in a state where the median theatre graduate earns $22,658, and where schools like Carthage and UW-Parkside produce graduates earning 30-45% more.

The debt picture offers slight relief: at $26,000, it's below Wisconsin's median for theatre programs and creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.24—not alarming for an arts degree, though the declining earnings pattern means graduates may struggle to pay down principal in those early years. Among the 21 Wisconsin programs, this sits near the bottom half for outcomes, with graduates from UW-Whitewater, UW-Milwaukee, and several others seeing better earning trajectories.

For families weighing this against other UW System options, the numbers suggest steering toward UW-Whitewater or even UW-Milwaukee if theatre is the goal. Stevens Point's 90% admission rate and lower test scores may signal less competitive talent cohorts, which could affect networking and job placement. If your student is set on this campus, treat it as a personal development investment rather than a financial one—the debt is serviceable, but the earnings won't provide much cushion for years.