by our College Data Analytics Team
[Drama And Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a drama and theater arts degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find where drama and theater arts graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose drama and theater arts graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in drama and theater arts, no school beat University Of Washington Seattle Campus this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus typically earn about $44,955 annually.
Central Washington University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of about $32,946 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Western Washington University one of the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Western Washington University typically earn about $32,409 annually.
Pacific Lutheran University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Located in the suburb of Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $25,754.
Students chasing top earnings in drama and theater arts will find them at Cornish College Of The Arts, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Seattle, Cornish College Of The Arts is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Cornish College Of The Arts typically earn about $21,752 annually.
University Of Puget Sound placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. University Of Puget Sound is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tacoma. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $16,310.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries drama and theater arts graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 6 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.