by our College Data Analytics Team
[Drama And Theater Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a drama and theater arts degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 64 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose drama and theater arts graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Kean University, our #1 for drama and theater arts graduate salaries in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Kean University typically earn about $50,604 annually.
Stony Brook University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in drama and theater arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Stony Brook University is a public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Stony Brook University typically earn about $42,521 annually.
Manhattanville College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Manhattanville College 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 $37,988.
A rank of #4 makes West Chester University Of Pennsylvania one of the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from West Chester University Of Pennsylvania make a median of around $34,156 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #5 place for drama and theater arts. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania typically earn about $33,169 annually.
American University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. American University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from American University typically earn about $46,621 annually.
Cuny Laguardia Community College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Cuny Laguardia Community College typically earn about $31,640 annually.
University At Buffalo came in at #8 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. University At Buffalo is a public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $37,364.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon 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 $26,137.
Suny College At Potsdam placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Suny College At Potsdam is a public school located in the town of Potsdam. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Suny College At Potsdam earn a median of about $39,609 a year early in their careers.
Manhattan School Of Music came in at #11 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Manhattan School Of Music is a private not-for-profit institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Manhattan School Of Music earn a median of about $29,400 a year early in their careers.
New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. New York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts is a private for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $22,943.
Syracuse University landed the #13 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Syracuse University make a median of around $41,457 per year.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #14 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of about $39,051 a year early in their careers.
Suny At Purchase College came in at #15 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a public institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,645.
Vassar College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Vassar College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Vassar College typically earn about $38,959 annually.
Temple University landed the #17 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Temple University is a public school located in the city of Philadelphia. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Temple University typically earn about $37,446 annually.
Suny At Fredonia came in at #18 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Suny At Fredonia is a public school located in the town of Fredonia. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $35,448.
Ithaca College placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Ithaca College typically earn about $38,424 annually.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #20 position for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,656.
Cuny Queens College came in at #21 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a public institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,566.
Towson University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a public institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,983.
Fordham University landed the #23 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Fordham University earn a median of about $43,045 a year early in their careers.
Montclair State University landed the #24 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Montclair State University is a public school located in the suburb of Montclair. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Montclair State University make a median of around $35,768 per year.
Muhlenberg College placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Located in the city of Allentown, Muhlenberg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Muhlenberg College make a median of around $37,505 per year.
These schools also send drama and theater arts graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their drama and theater arts graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 64 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.