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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find where drama and theater arts graduates earn the most.
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.
For graduate earnings in drama and theater arts, no school beat Rhode Island College this year. 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.
University Of Rhode Island came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from University Of Rhode Island typically earn about $19,551 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in drama and theater arts will find them at Brown University, which ranked #3. Brown University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Brown University typically earn about $22,922 annually.
This list is compiled 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 · 3 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.