by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 11 U.S. colleges awarded 99 degrees and certificates in Theatre and Dance. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 79% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Theatre and Dance 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.
A major in Theatre and Dance involves the study of A Program Of Study That Focuses On Integrating The Studies Of Dance And Theatre Arts To Provide Perspectives In All Facets Of Production, Performance, And Critical Engagement. Includes Instruction In Acting, Aesthetics, Choreography, Costume Design, Criticism, Dance, Improvisation, Music Analysis, Playwriting, Theatre Performance History, Scene Design, Stage Lighting, And Technical Theatre.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, theatre and dance is a widely-pursued major, with 99 degrees awarded annually. 11 colleges award theatre and dance degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 39.
By level, the 99 awards include 78 bachelor’s degrees and 21 master’s degrees.
Women earned 72% of theatre and dance degrees and certificates in the latest year (71 of 99). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (54) and Hispanic or Latino (20), and international students earned 2.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Theatre and Dance Schools ranking, including 4 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks theatre and dance schools within 4 states. In all, 11 colleges offer theatre and dance programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Theatre and Dance Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common theatre and dance credential is the bachelor’s degree: 78 of the 99 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to theatre and dance call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, English Language and Communications and Media, 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 theatre and dance degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 78 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 21 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to theatre and dance, at 28.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.1% |
| Master’s degree | 22.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 13.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| Some college courses | 3.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Theatre and Dance, with an average median salary of $71,969; the strongest outlook belongs to Choreographers, at 14.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Dance Instructor, Lighting Design Lecturer, Dramatic Coach and College Professor.
The occupation related to theatre and dance 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% |
| Choreographers | 365,704 | 14.8% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Dancers | 244,405 | 0.9% |
| 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% |
Theatre and Dance 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 theatre and dance, with a median salary of $109,380.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Choreographers | $109,380 |
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
| Dancers | $74,180 |
| 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 |
Theatre and Dance has 10 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 16,229 degrees a year; the largest are Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General (10,369), Acting (1,721) and Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology (1,247). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | 10,369 |
| 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 Literature, History and Criticism | 39 |
| Comedy Writing and Performance | 35 |
| Costume Design | 32 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
