Theater & Drama
Quick Facts: Theater & Drama Training
Where it's offered
Theater & Drama programs are offered at 13 schools across 3 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $14,801/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 7 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Theater & Drama — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 13 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 23/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Theater & Drama Graduates Do
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 more
Your career will likely begin as a production assistant, assistant designer, or stagehand, learning the industry from the ground up. As you build a portfolio, you’ll progress to directing independent projects or taking on lead design roles for regional theaters. While starting pay can be project-based, established directors, producers, and specialized designers can command significant fees. Demand is growing for creative leaders like producers and directors who can manage complex projects from concept to curtain call.
While AI tools may assist with tasks like script analysis or generating initial design concepts, they can't replicate the hands-on craftsmanship and human collaboration at the heart of the performing arts. The core work of guiding a performance or building a world remains a fundamentally human craft.
Students considering Theater & Drama also weigh Dance, Music, and Film & Photography — see each trade's earnings and school count side by side.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 7 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Theater & Drama. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Actor
RAPIDS 862 |
4800 hrs
~2.4 yrs |
Time | — | 0.3% |
|
Director, Television
RAPIDS 970 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $83,480 – $131K | 4.9% |
|
Fur Designer
RAPIDS 224 |
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs |
Time | $54K – $80,690 – $108K | 2.0% |
|
Multimedia Producer (Existing Title: Tv Director)
RAPIDS 0970CB |
Competency | Competency | $60K – $83,480 – $131K | 4.9% |
|
Musician
RAPIDS 2080CB |
Competency | Competency | — | 1.1% |
|
Program Assistant
RAPIDS 913 |
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs |
Time | $60K – $83,480 – $131K | 4.9% |
|
Wardrobe Supervisor
RAPIDS 494 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $39K – $54,810 – $83K | 5.9% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Find Theater & Drama Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Theater & Drama is offered at 13 schools across 3 states. Pick your state to see a local comparison (states with fewer programs link to the state hub).
Top Theater & Drama Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Theater & Drama programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
13 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY LaGuardia Community College Long Island City, NY |
34 28–36 |
| 2 | KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts Dallas, TX |
32 28–34 |
| 3 | Theatre of Arts Hollywood, CA |
30 26–32 |
| 4 | American Musical and Dramatic Academy New York, NY |
29 25–31 |
| 5 | New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts New York, NY |
29 25–31 |
| 6 | American Musical and Dramatic Academy New York, NY |
29 25–31 |
| 7 | New York Film Academy Burbank, CA |
29 24–31 |
| 8 | Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater New York City, NY |
29 24–31 |
| 9 | American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA |
28 24–30 |
| 10 | American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York New York, NY |
28 24–30 |
| 11 | American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA |
28 24–30 |
| 12 | American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York New York, NY |
28 24–30 |
| 13 | New York Film Academy Burbank, CA |
28 23–29 |
Highest Earning Theater & Drama Programs
Schools where Theater & Drama graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts | $22,845/yr | 32 |
| Theatre of Arts | $18,746/yr | 30 |
| American Musical and Dramatic Academy | $17,382/yr | 29 |
| New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts | $15,997/yr | 29 |
| American Musical and Dramatic Academy | $15,909/yr | 29 |
| New York Film Academy | $15,355/yr | 29 |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College | $15,314/yr | 34 |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles | $14,335/yr | 28 |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York | $14,335/yr | 28 |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles | $12,445/yr | 28 |
Best ROI for Theater & Drama
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Theater & Drama.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College | 29.3x | $15,314/yr | 34 |
| Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater | 10.0x | $10,492/yr | 29 |
| New York Film Academy | 5.8x | $15,355/yr | 29 |
| KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts | 5.1x | $22,845/yr | 32 |
| American Musical and Dramatic Academy | 3.5x | $17,382/yr | 29 |
| Theatre of Arts | 3.3x | $18,746/yr | 30 |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles | 2.6x | $14,335/yr | 28 |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York | 2.6x | $14,335/yr | 28 |
| New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts | 2.1x | $15,997/yr | 29 |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles | 1.4x | $12,445/yr | 28 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Theater & Drama degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.