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.
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:
Below are the schools whose drama and theater arts graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in drama and theater arts, no school beat University Of Montevallo this year. Set in the town of Montevallo, University Of Montevallo is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from University Of Montevallo make a median of around $33,007 per year.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Alabama At Birmingham one of the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a public school located in the city of Birmingham. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham typically earn about $26,670 annually.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Alabama one of the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. The University Of Alabama is a public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from The University Of Alabama typically earn about $27,525 annually.
Auburn University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Auburn University earn a median of about $20,899 a year early in their careers.
Alabama State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in drama and theater arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Alabama State University is a public school located in the city of Montgomery. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Alabama State University earn a median of about $17,997 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.