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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the early-career earnings of their drama and theater arts graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send drama and theater arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Brandeis University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools in the New England Region. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Brandeis University make a median of around $49,873 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in drama and theater arts will find them at Keene State College, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Keene State College typically earn about $44,848 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned it the #3 place for drama and theater arts. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst typically earn about $41,063 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Eastern Connecticut State University earned it the #4 place for drama and theater arts. Eastern Connecticut State University is a public school located in the town of Willimantic. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Eastern Connecticut State University typically earn about $33,551 annually.
Yale University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in drama and theater arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale 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 $44,472.
Rhode Island College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Rhode Island College typically earn about $37,031 annually.
Dean College landed the #7 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Franklin, Dean 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 $29,006.
Vermont Technical College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Vermont Technical College is a public school located in the rural area of Randolph. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Vermont Technical College typically earn about $28,718 annually.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus came in at #9 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Durham. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,491.
Boston University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Boston University make a median of around $35,979 per year.
Western Connecticut State University earned the #11 position for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Western Connecticut State University is a public school located in the city of Danbury. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Western Connecticut State University make a median of around $28,374 per year.
Emerson College placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Emerson College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Emerson College typically earn about $33,947 annually.
Suffolk University earned the #13 position for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk 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 $23,189.
University Of Connecticut landed the #14 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. University Of Connecticut is a public school located in the town of Storrs. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of about $29,845 a year early in their careers.
Plymouth State University came in at #15 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Plymouth, Plymouth State University is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Plymouth State University typically earn about $22,489 annually.
University Of Rhode Island ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. University Of Rhode Island is a public school located in the suburb of Kingston. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island typically earn about $19,551 annually.
Brown University landed the #17 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Brown University make a median of around $22,922 per year.
Bennington College earned the #18 position for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Bennington College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Bennington. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $16,579.
University Of Southern Maine placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from University Of Southern Maine make a median of around $12,960 per year.
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 · 19 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.