Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Webster University

Webster University's theatre program produces graduates who earn significantly less than their peers—ranking in just the 10th percentile among Missouri's 29 theatre programs and the bottom 5% nationally. The first-year earnings of $13,182 are barely above poverty level, though they do nearly double by year four. Even with that growth, graduates still earn $25,277 after four years, while students at Missouri Western State earn $26,929 right out of the gate. The debt load of $26,000 isn't unusually high for theatre programs, but when you're earning $13,000 in your first year, it becomes nearly two years' worth of income.

The 92% earnings growth sounds impressive until you realize it's climbing from an extremely low starting point. This program's graduates lag behind the state median by over $7,000 in year one, and that gap persists even as earnings improve. For comparison, Missouri State's theatre graduates start around $22,000—nearly 70% higher than Webster's initial earnings.

If your child is certain about pursuing theatre professionally, understand that this program's outcomes fall well below what other Missouri schools deliver. The debt burden is manageable relative to peers, but the earnings trajectory suggests either graduates are pursuing particularly low-paying theatre work or struggling to find consistent employment in the field. Unless Webster offers unique training or industry connections that aren't captured in these numbers, other in-state options appear to offer better economic starting points.