by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 954 U.S. colleges awarded 16,328 degrees and certificates in Drama & Theater Arts. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 72% of graduates. College Factual ranks 359 schools in its 2027 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $21,269 one year after completing, rising to $40,353 after four years.
If you have a passion for the stage and revel in musicals, Shakespeare plays and live comedies, you may be interested in a degree in Drama and Theater Arts.
Students in the Drama and Theater Arts take classes in theater history, acting, costume design, stage movement, voice, directing, and scene design to learn about the necessary steps to produce a performance. You will participate in performances and learn about the behind the scenes and skill work necessary to ensure a successful production.
While some students enjoy taking classes in all aspects of Drama and Theatre Arts, others decide to specialize in areas such as Theater Design and Technology, Playwriting and Screenwriting, Theater Literature, Acting, Directing and Theatrical Production, Musical Theater, or Costume Design.
Studying Drama & Theater Arts involves the study of Drama/theatre Arts And Stagecraft.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, drama & theater arts draws strong interest, with 16,328 degrees awarded annually. 954 colleges award drama & theater arts degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 585.
By level, the 16,328 awards include 640 certificates, 1,604 associate degrees, 11,759 bachelor’s degrees, 2,227 master’s degrees and 75 doctorates.
Women earned 65% of drama & theater arts degrees and certificates in the latest year (10,583 of 16,328). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (9,149) and Hispanic or Latino (2,755), and international students earned 853.
College Factual ranks 359 schools in its 2027 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools ranking, including 51 for associate degrees, 290 for bachelor’s degrees and 55 for master’s degrees. It also ranks drama & theater arts schools within 48 states. In all, 954 colleges offer drama & theater arts programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Drama & Theater Arts Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common drama & theater arts credential is the bachelor’s degree: 11,759 of the 16,328 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to drama & theater arts call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Depending on your area of specialization, your courses will require different skills. Acting requires memorization, public speaking and stage presence, while playwriting requires creativity and strong writing skills. Students interested in directing tend to be leaders, while costume designers are creative and skilled in fashion design. Those interested in theater tech may work behind the scenes with lighting and sound. However, all Drama and Theater Arts students have a passion for theater and tend to be good communicators.
A career in Drama and Theater Arts is usually fulltime, but work hours vary depending on the area of specialization. Critics attend productions, but spend most of their time in the office writing reviews. Directors and actors work long hours practicing and performing, while screenwriters and costume and set designers may work more typical hours with overtime when approaching a deadline. An internship or summer job in theater will allow you to work closely with a professional in your desired area of specialization and learn more about the profession.
Those interested in this field usually practice their skills with theater productions in high school and college. You can also get involved in community productions. College allows you to hone your skills and prepare for a professional career in the field.
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How long a drama & theater arts degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 640 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,604 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 11,759 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,227 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 75 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to drama & theater arts, at 32.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 32.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 3.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
16 occupations are related to Drama & Theater Arts, with an average median salary of $72,118; the strongest outlook belongs to Choreographers, at 14.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Dance Instructor, Artist Instructor, Dramatic Art Teacher and Studio Instructor.
Drama and Theater Arts graduates work for a variety of companies within the performing arts field. Some graduates work with musical theater companies touring with the production, some are on Broadway, some graduates have gone into the motion picture company, and others work for performing arts magazines or venues. A degree in Drama and Theater Arts provides students with the skills to be a member of any company or organization within the acting field.
Entertainment and performing arts are growing at an average rate; however, this can be a very competitive profession in some areas. Those who are successfully typically have a lot of practice and experience under their belt.
The occupation related to drama & theater arts 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% |
| Costume Attendants | 381,087 | -3.8% |
| Choreographers | 365,704 | 14.8% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Fashion Designers | 259,478 | -2.9% |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | 253,386 | -2.7% |
| Dancers | 244,405 | 0.9% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 180,947 | 6.4% |
Drama & Theater Arts graduates earn a median $21,269 one year after completing their program, $40,353 after four years and $33,075 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $21,269 |
| 4 years | $40,353 |
| 5 years | $33,075 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to drama & theater arts, with a median salary of $109,380.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Choreographers | $109,380 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $109,049 |
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
| Dancers | $74,180 |
| Talent Directors | $73,937 |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | $70,619 |
Drama & Theater Arts includes 11 concentrations that together award 16,328 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General (10,369), Acting (1,721) and Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology (1,247). It has 10 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 141,942 degrees a year; the largest are Design and Applied Arts (39,906), Fine and Studio Arts (39,642) and Music (26,269). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | 10,369 |
| Acting | 1,721 |
| Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology | 1,247 |
| Musical Theatre | 1,217 |
| Playwriting and Screenwriting | 937 |
| Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other | 418 |
| Directing and Theatrical Production | 214 |
| Theatre and Dance | 99 |
| Theatre Literature, History and Criticism | 39 |
| Comedy Writing and Performance | 35 |
| Costume Design | 32 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 39,906 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 39,642 |
| Music | 26,269 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 19,222 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 7,856 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 4,713 |
| Dance | 3,317 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | 964 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 46 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 7 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
