by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 45 U.S. colleges awarded 418 degrees and certificates in Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 51% of graduates. College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft 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 Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft involves the study of Dramatic/theatre Arts And Stagecraft, Other. Any Instructional Program In Dramatic/theatre Arts And Stagecraft Not Listed Above.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, other dramatic/theatre arts & stagecraft is a widely-pursued major, with 418 degrees awarded annually. 45 colleges award other dramatic/theatre arts & stagecraft degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 81.
By level, the 418 awards include 100 certificates, 35 associate degrees, 214 bachelor’s degrees, 67 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 62% of other dramatic/theatre arts & stagecraft degrees and certificates in the latest year (261 of 418). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (215) and Hispanic or Latino (77), and international students earned 34.
College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees, 7 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks other dramatic/theatre arts & stagecraft schools within 5 states. In all, 45 colleges offer other dramatic/theatre arts & stagecraft programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common other dramatic/theatre arts & stagecraft credential is the bachelor’s degree: 214 of the 418 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to other dramatic/theatre arts & stagecraft call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Fine Arts 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 an other dramatic/theatre arts & stagecraft degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 100 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 35 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 214 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 67 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to other dramatic/theatre arts & stagecraft, at 32.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.8% |
| Master’s degree | 23.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 10.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.1% |
| Some college courses | 4.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft, with an average median salary of $63,865; the strongest outlook belongs to Media Programming Directors, at 11.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Music Lecturer, Associate Professor, Adjunct Music Instructor and Dancing Teacher.
The occupation related to other dramatic/theatre arts & stagecraft 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% |
| 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% |
Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft 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 other dramatic/theatre arts & stagecraft, 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 |
| Costume Attendants | $46,757 |
| Actors | $45,006 |
Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft has 10 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 15,910 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 |
| Directing and Theatrical Production | 214 |
| 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.
