by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 824 U.S. colleges awarded 10,369 degrees and certificates in Theater Arts. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 76% of graduates. College Factual ranks 261 schools in its 2027 Best Theater Arts Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $21,269 one year after completing, rising to $40,353 after four years.
Studying Theater Arts involves the study of Drama And Dramatics/theatre Arts, General. A Program That Focuses On The General Study Of Dramatic Works And Their Performance. Includes Instruction In Major Works Of Dramatic Literature, Dramatic Styles And Types, And The Principles Of Organizing And Producing Full Live Or Filmed Productions.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., theater arts is a popular field of study, with 10,369 degrees awarded annually. 824 colleges award theater arts degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 432.
By level, the 10,369 awards include 298 certificates, 1,121 associate degrees, 7,888 bachelor’s degrees, 991 master’s degrees and 67 doctorates.
Women earned 66% of theater arts degrees and certificates in the latest year (6,875 of 10,369). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5,879) and Hispanic or Latino (1,850), and international students earned 389.
College Factual ranks 261 schools in its 2027 Best Theater Arts Schools ranking, including 37 for associate degrees, 212 for bachelor’s degrees and 40 for master’s degrees. It also ranks theater arts schools within 45 states. In all, 824 colleges offer theater arts programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Theater Arts Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common theater arts credential is the bachelor’s degree: 7,888 of the 10,369 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to theater arts call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Communications and Media and Fine Arts, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a theater arts degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 298 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,121 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 7,888 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 991 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 67 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to theater arts, at 33.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.5% |
| Master’s degree | 28.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Theater Arts, with an average median salary of $66,309; the strongest outlook belongs to Media Programming Directors, at 11.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Organ Teacher, Violin Teacher, Stagecraft Professor and Music Theory Teacher.
The occupation related to theater arts with the most projected jobs is Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Talent Directors | 163,716 | -3.3% |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | 136,436 | -2.6% |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | 127,872 | 7.5% |
| Media Programming Directors | 98,123 | 11.2% |
| Actors | 52,034 | 6.5% |
Theater Arts graduates earn a median $21,269 one year after completing their program, $40,353 after four years and $33,075 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $21,269 |
| 4 years | $40,353 |
| 5 years | $33,075 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to theater arts, with a median salary of $90,799.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
| Talent Directors | $73,937 |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | $65,049 |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | $51,873 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
| Actors | $45,006 |
Theater Arts has 10 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 5,959 degrees a year; the largest are Acting (1,721), Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology (1,247) and Musical Theatre (1,217). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Acting | 1,721 |
| Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology | 1,247 |
| Musical Theatre | 1,217 |
| Playwriting and Screenwriting | 937 |
| Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other | 418 |
| Directing and Theatrical Production | 214 |
| Theatre and Dance | 99 |
| Theatre Literature, History and Criticism | 39 |
| Comedy Writing and Performance | 35 |
| Costume Design | 32 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
