by our College Data Analytics Team
[Drama And Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a drama and theater arts degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send drama and theater arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Ohio State University Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools in Ohio. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Columbus. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,039.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Cincinnati Main Campus one of the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus make a median of around $35,509 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in drama and theater arts will find them at Kent State University At Kent, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of about $30,381 a year early in their careers.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in drama and theater arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of about $31,649 a year early in their careers.
Youngstown State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in drama and theater arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Youngstown State University make a median of around $24,933 per year.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #6 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Wright State University Main Campus make a median of around $32,244 per year.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of about $35,072 a year early in their careers.
Otterbein University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Set in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Otterbein University typically earn about $37,633 annually.
Miami University Oxford landed the #9 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Miami University Oxford make a median of around $22,434 per year.
Baldwin Wallace College landed the #10 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Baldwin Wallace College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Baldwin Wallace College make a median of around $30,751 per year.
University Of Toledo placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. University Of Toledo is a public school located in the city of Toledo. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from University Of Toledo make a median of around $21,685 per year.
Ohio Northern University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Located in the town of Ada, Ohio Northern University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Ohio Northern University typically earn about $19,167 annually.
Oberlin College landed the #13 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Located in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of about $12,441 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled 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 · 13 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.