by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 8 U.S. colleges awarded 39 degrees and certificates in Theatre Literature, History & Criticism. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Theatre Literature, History & Criticism 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 degree in Theatre Literature, History & Criticism covers Theatre Literature, History And Criticism. A Program That Focuses On The Study Of The History, Literature, Theory, And Analysis Of Written Plays, Theatrical Productions, And Theatre Methods And Organization. Includes Instruction In Historical Method; Critical Theory; Literary Analysis; The Study Of Themes And Archetypes In Dramatic Literature; The History Of Acting, Directing, And Technical Theatre; And The Study Of Specific Historical And Cultural Styles And Traditions.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., theatre literature, history & criticism is a popular field of study, with 39 degrees awarded annually. 8 colleges award theatre literature, history & criticism degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 16.
By level, the 39 awards include 2 associate degrees, 23 bachelor’s degrees, 8 master’s degrees and 6 doctorates.
Women earned 72% of theatre literature, history & criticism degrees and certificates in the latest year (28 of 39). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (15) and Black or African American (10), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 1 schools in its 2027 Best Theatre Literature, History & Criticism Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. In all, 8 colleges offer theatre literature, history & criticism programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Theatre Literature, History & Criticism Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common theatre literature, history & criticism credential is the bachelor’s degree: 23 of the 39 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to theatre literature, history & criticism call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, Education and Training and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a theatre literature, history & criticism degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 23 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to theatre literature, history & criticism, at 50.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 50.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 31.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 13.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Theatre Literature, History & Criticism, with an average median salary of $46,983; the strongest outlook belongs to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Ceramics Teacher, Fine Arts Teacher, Adjunct Music Instructor and College Faculty Member.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to theatre literature, history & criticism, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
Theatre Literature, History & Criticism 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 literature, history & criticism, with a median salary of $46,983.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Theatre Literature, History & Criticism has 10 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 16,289 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 and Dance | 99 |
| Comedy Writing and Performance | 35 |
| Costume Design | 32 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
