by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you have a passion for the stage and revel in musicals, Shakespeare plays and live comedies, you may be interested in a degree in Drama and Theater Arts.
Students in the Drama and Theater Arts take classes in theater history, acting, costume design, stage movement, voice, directing, and scene design to learn about the necessary steps to produce a performance. You will participate in performances and learn about the behind the scenes and skill work necessary to ensure a successful production.
While some students enjoy taking classes in all aspects of Drama and Theatre Arts, others decide to specialize in areas such as Theater Design and Technology, Playwriting and Screenwriting, Theater Literature, Acting, Directing and Theatrical Production, Musical Theater, or Costume Design.
Studying Drama & Theater Arts involves the study of Drama/theatre Arts And Stagecraft. Read on to learn the important information every drama & theater arts major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering drama & theater arts programs.
Nationwide, drama & theater arts draws strong interest, with 16,640 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools ranking analyzes these 980 schools to determine the best overall colleges for drama & theater arts students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of drama & theater arts programs later in this article.
Programs in Drama & Theater Arts emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations drama & theater arts graduates commonly enter.
Depending on your area of specialization, your courses will require different skills. Acting requires memorization, public speaking and stage presence, while playwriting requires creativity and strong writing skills. Students interested in directing tend to be leaders, while costume designers are creative and skilled in fashion design. Those interested in theater tech may work behind the scenes with lighting and sound. However, all Drama and Theater Arts students have a passion for theater and tend to be good communicators.
A career in Drama and Theater Arts is usually fulltime, but work hours vary depending on the area of specialization. Critics attend productions, but spend most of their time in the office writing reviews. Directors and actors work long hours practicing and performing, while screenwriters and costume and set designers may work more typical hours with overtime when approaching a deadline. An internship or summer job in theater will allow you to work closely with a professional in your desired area of specialization and learn more about the profession.
Those interested in this field usually practice their skills with theater productions in high school and college. You can also get involved in community productions. College allows you to hone your skills and prepare for a professional career in the field.
The skill set emphasized by a drama & theater arts program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a drama & theater arts major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several drama & theater arts degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 703 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,637 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 12,120 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,065 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 92 |
People currently working in careers related to drama & theater arts tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 32.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 3.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.9% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in drama & theater arts careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Drama and Theater Arts graduates work for a variety of companies within the performing arts field. Some graduates work with musical theater companies touring with the production, some are on Broadway, some graduates have gone into the motion picture company, and others work for performing arts magazines or venues. A degree in Drama and Theater Arts provides students with the skills to be a member of any company or organization within the acting field.
Entertainment and performing arts are growing at an average rate; however, this can be a very competitive profession in some areas. Those who are successfully typically have a lot of practice and experience under their belt.
A degree in drama & theater arts opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to drama & theater arts.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to drama & theater arts.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Costume Attendants | 381,087 | -3.8% |
| Choreographers | 365,704 | 14.8% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Fashion Designers | 259,478 | -2.9% |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | 253,386 | -2.7% |
| Dancers | 244,405 | 0.9% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 180,947 | 6.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of drama & theater arts graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $21,253 |
| 4 years | $29,200 |
| 5 years | $33,047 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for drama & theater arts graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers drama & theater arts grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Choreographers | $109,380 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $109,049 |
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
| Dancers | $74,180 |
| Talent Directors | $73,937 |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | $70,619 |
With 980 different drama & theater arts programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased drama & theater arts school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in drama & theater arts, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | 10,778 |
| Acting | 1,859 |
| Musical Theatre | 1,157 |
| Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology | 1,087 |
| Playwriting and Screenwriting | 863 |
| Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other | 437 |
| Directing and Theatrical Production | 213 |
| Theatre and Dance | 122 |
| Costume Design | 64 |
| Comedy Writing and Performance | 35 |
| Theatre Literature, History and Criticism | 25 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 38,798 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 37,770 |
| Music | 25,853 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 18,927 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 7,225 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 4,430 |
| Dance | 3,274 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | 941 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 67 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 12 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
