by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 35 U.S. colleges awarded 214 degrees and certificates in Directing & Theatrical Production. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 55% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Directing & Theatrical Production 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.
Studying Directing & Theatrical Production covers Directing And Theatrical Production. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage The Planning, Design, Preparation, And Production Of Plays And Other Theatrical Entertainment Programs. Includes Instruction In Theatrical Design, Program Management, Dramatic Production, Rehearsal Management, Personnel Management And Casting, Actor Coaching, Directing Concepts And Techniques, Theater History, Scene Work, Script Interpretation, Business Management, Marketing, Public Relations, And Communications Skills.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, directing & theatrical production draws strong interest, with 214 degrees awarded annually. 35 colleges award directing & theatrical production degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 40.
By level, the 214 awards include 25 certificates, 118 bachelor’s degrees and 71 master’s degrees.
Women earned 65% of directing & theatrical production degrees and certificates in the latest year (140 of 214). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (130) and Hispanic or Latino (27), and international students earned 11.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Directing & Theatrical Production Schools ranking, including 4 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks directing & theatrical production schools within 4 states. In all, 35 colleges offer directing & theatrical production programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Directing & Theatrical Production Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common directing & theatrical production credential is the bachelor’s degree: 118 of the 214 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to directing & theatrical production call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Communications and Media and Fine Arts, 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 directing & theatrical production degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 25 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 118 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 71 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to directing & theatrical production, at 33.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.5% |
| Master’s degree | 28.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Directing & Theatrical Production, with an average median salary of $66,309; the strongest outlook belongs to Media Programming Directors, at 11.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Professor, Music Instructor, Adjunct Art Instructor and Singing Teacher.
The occupation related to directing & theatrical production 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% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Talent Directors | 163,716 | -3.3% |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | 136,436 | -2.6% |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | 127,872 | 7.5% |
| Media Programming Directors | 98,123 | 11.2% |
| Actors | 52,034 | 6.5% |
Directing & Theatrical Production 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 directing & theatrical production, with a median salary of $90,799.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
| Talent Directors | $73,937 |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | $65,049 |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | $51,873 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
| Actors | $45,006 |
Directing & Theatrical Production has 10 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 16,114 degrees a year; the largest are Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General (10,369), Acting (1,721) and Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology (1,247). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related 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 |
| Theatre and Dance | 99 |
| Theatre Literature, History and Criticism | 39 |
| Comedy Writing and Performance | 35 |
| Costume Design | 32 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
