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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the early-career earnings of their drama and theater arts graduates.
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 Berea College, our #1 for drama and theater arts graduate salaries in Kentucky. Set in the town of Berea, Berea College is a private not-for-profit institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Berea College earn a median of about $37,255 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in drama and theater arts will find them at University Of Kentucky, which ranked #2. University Of Kentucky is a public school located in the city of Lexington. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from University Of Kentucky typically earn about $35,087 annually.
Northern Kentucky University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in drama and theater arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Northern Kentucky University is a public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $30,382.
Western Kentucky University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Western Kentucky University typically earn about $22,884 annually.
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 · 4 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.