by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Comedy Writing and Performance involves the study of A Program That Focuses On The Historical, Cultural, And Theoretical Dimensions Of Comedy As An Art Form, And The Writing, Performance, And Production Of Comedy. Includes Instruction In Comedic Storytelling, Comedy Production, Comedy Writing, History Of Comedy, Improvisation, And Sketch Writing. Examples: [Comedic Arts], [Comedy Studies]. Continue reading for the key facts every comedy writing and performance major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering comedy writing and performance programs.
Nationwide, comedy writing and performance is a widely-pursued major, with 35 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Comedy Writing and Performance Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for comedy writing and performance students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of comedy writing and performance programs later in this article.
Programs in Comedy Writing and Performance emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations comedy writing and performance graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a comedy writing and performance program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a comedy writing and performance major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several comedy writing and performance 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 35 |
People currently working in careers related to comedy writing and performance tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 37.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 23.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 20.2% |
| Some college courses | 7.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.7% |
| First professional degree | 1.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in comedy writing and performance careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in comedy writing and performance opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to comedy writing and performance.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to comedy writing and performance.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 175,767 | 9.1% |
| Writers and Authors | 155,629 | -4.3% |
| Actors | 52,034 | 6.5% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of comedy writing and performance 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 comedy writing and performance graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers comedy writing and performance grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | $70,619 |
| Writers and Authors | $63,195 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
| Actors | $45,006 |
With 2 different comedy writing and performance programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased comedy writing and performance school rankings to help you.
Those considering comedy writing and performance, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related 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 |
| Theatre Literature, History and Criticism | 25 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
