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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 5 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.
Leading the list is Metropolitan State College Of Denver, our #1 for drama and theater arts graduate salaries in Colorado. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,879.
University Of Colorado Boulder produces some of the highest-paid graduates in drama and theater arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder typically earn about $25,072 annually.
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a public institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,299.
Strong graduate earnings at Colorado State University Fort Collins earned it the #4 place for drama and theater arts. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of about $28,172 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes Mesa State College one of the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Mesa State College is a public school located in the city of Grand Junction. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of about $32,745 a year early in their careers.
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 · 5 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.