by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 24 U.S. colleges awarded 221 degrees and certificates in Theatre/Theatre Arts Management. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 69% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Theatre/Theatre Arts Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $30,868 one year after completing, rising to $51,953 after four years.
A major in Theatre/Theatre Arts Management covers Theatre/theatre Arts Management. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Business Management Principles To The Management Of Theatres And Production Corporations. Includes Instruction In Theatrical Production, Theatre Design And Planning, Fund-Raising And Promotion, Investment Strategies, Human Resources Management, Theatre Operations Management, Marketing, Public Relations, Financial Management And Insurance, And Applicable Laws And Regulations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, theatre/theatre arts management draws strong interest, with 221 degrees awarded annually. 24 colleges award theatre/theatre arts management degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 89.
By level, the 221 awards include 1 associate degrees, 153 bachelor’s degrees and 67 master’s degrees.
Women earned 73% of theatre/theatre arts management degrees and certificates in the latest year (162 of 221). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (92) and Black or African American (36), and international students earned 24.
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Theatre/Theatre Arts Management Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks theatre/theatre arts management schools within 3 states. In all, 24 colleges offer theatre/theatre arts management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Theatre/Theatre Arts Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common theatre/theatre arts management credential is the bachelor’s degree: 153 of the 221 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to theatre/theatre arts management call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Communications and Media, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a theatre/theatre arts management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 153 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 67 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to theatre/theatre arts management, at 44.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 44.2% |
| Master’s degree | 21.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 11.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 3.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to Theatre/Theatre Arts Management, with an average median salary of $101,295; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Ballet Professor, College Professor, Choir Teacher and Ballet Teacher.
The occupation related to theatre/theatre arts management with the most projected jobs is Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Talent Directors | 163,716 | -3.3% |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | 136,436 | -2.6% |
Theatre/Theatre Arts Management graduates earn a median $30,868 one year after completing their program, $51,953 after four years and $46,688 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $30,868 |
| 4 years | $51,953 |
| 5 years | $46,688 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to theatre/theatre arts management is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
Theatre/Theatre Arts Management has 4 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 4,492 degrees a year; the largest are Music Management (1,955), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General (1,060) and Fine and Studio Arts Management (959). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music Management | 1,955 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General | 1,060 |
| Fine and Studio Arts Management | 959 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Other | 518 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
