Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at CUNY LaGuardia Community College

Long Island City, NY · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 10,556 in Long Island City, NY.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $15,314 track close to the $14,801 national median for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 24.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft's career paths, with 37% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 40% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #1 of 13 programs, CUNY LaGuardia Community College's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $31,640 show a 107% jump from the $15,314 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft offers 7 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

34 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
28
Low End
34
Score
36
High End
Earnings $15,314/yr (3% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (63% shielded)
Job Market Large (78,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$269K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
25.8x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
12 of 12
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$10,436
Out-of-state: $16,196
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$31,640
107% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Producers and directors $83,480 +4.9% 58%
Fashion designers $80,690 +2.0% 61%
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190 +1.7% 56%
Producers and directors
$83,480
+4.9% growth 58% AI-proof
Fashion designers
$80,690
+2.0% growth 61% AI-proof
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
$80,190
+1.7% growth 56% AI-proof

View all 12 career paths with full salary data →

About Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Careers

Your work in the performing arts is all about collaboration and creation. As a director, you'll spend your days in rehearsal halls guiding actors, in production meetings coordinating with designers, and on set making the final creative calls. If you lean towards stagecraft, you might be a set designer, translating scripts into physical worlds. You’ll move from drafting tables and 3D modeling software to the workshop, overseeing carpenters and painters as they build the environment you envisioned.

Read the full Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft career guide →

Compare & Explore

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Overview

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Other Schools

Other Majors at CUNY LaGuardia Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does CUNY LaGuardia Community College's Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program score?
This program scores 34/100 — on the lower end for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates?
Yes — 7 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft career paths, including Actor. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
What's the AI uncertainty for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft careers?
AI sensitivity is moderate-to-notable: a 40% difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes. The base case — our most likely scenario — falls between these extremes.
Is there demand for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft workers?
The career paths mapped to Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft have roughly 78,700 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →