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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 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.
Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Dallas, Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts is a private for-profit institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Kd College Conservatory Of Film And Dramatic Arts make a median of around $22,055 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in drama and theater arts will find them at Stephen F Austin State University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Stephen F Austin State University make a median of around $43,334 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Northern Arizona University earned it the #3 place for drama and theater arts. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Northern Arizona University make a median of around $49,036 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at The University Of Texas At Austin earned it the #4 place for drama and theater arts. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of about $33,261 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in drama and theater arts will find them at University Of North Texas, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of about $40,282 a year early in their careers.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a public institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Texas State University San Marcos make a median of around $40,459 per year.
West Texas A And M University came in at #7 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a public institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,814.
Sam Houston State University earned the #8 position for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Sam Houston State University is a public school located in the town of Huntsville. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,548.
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi earned the #9 position for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Texas A And M University Corpus Christi make a median of around $36,799 per year.
Texas Tech University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Texas Tech University typically earn about $28,933 annually.
Arizona State University earned the #11 position for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of about $33,590 a year early in their careers.
Southern Methodist University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,577.
Saint Edwards University came in at #13 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Austin, Saint Edwards University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,767.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned the #14 position for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of about $28,352 a year early in their careers.
University Of Arizona came in at #15 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a public institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $29,220.
Texas Christian University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Texas Christian University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,422.
University Of The Incarnate Word ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. University Of The Incarnate Word is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Antonio. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from University Of The Incarnate Word make a median of around $27,295 per year.
Baylor University came in at #18 for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from Baylor University typically earn about $36,480 annually.
The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #19 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington typically earn about $26,474 annually.
Grand Canyon University earned the #20 position for drama and theater arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution. Early-career drama and theater arts graduates from Grand Canyon University make a median of around $30,913 per year.
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #21 spot for drama and theater arts salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public institution. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of about $35,769 a year early in their careers.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Stillwater. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,871.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying drama and theater arts schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the drama and theater arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,412.
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a public institution. After graduating, drama and theater arts degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American typically earn about $28,318 annually.
Oklahoma City University placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for drama and theater arts. Oklahoma City University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oklahoma City. Drama And Theater Arts graduates of Oklahoma City University earn a median of about $20,696 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid drama and theater arts ranking:
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 · 26 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.