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 10 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.
Elon University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools in North Carolina. Set in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Elon University typically earn about $43,297 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in drama and theater arts will find them at Western Carolina University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Western Carolina University make a median of around $35,165 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $30,890.
University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Located in the city of Winston Salem, University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a public institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $35,426.
A rank of #5 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro make a median of around $33,618 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington landed the #6 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public school located in the city of Wilmington. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington make a median of around $28,208 per year.
Appalachian State University landed the #7 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Appalachian State University is a public school located in the town of Boone. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Appalachian State University make a median of around $28,084 per year.
East Carolina University came in at #8 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. East Carolina University is a public school located in the city of Greenville. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from East Carolina University make a median of around $21,295 per year.
North Carolina A And T State University earned the #9 position for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of about $20,996 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte make a median of around $18,052 per year.
This ranking is produced 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 · 10 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.