by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Directing & Theatrical Production covers Directing And Theatrical Production. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage The Planning, Design, Preparation, And Production Of Plays And Other Theatrical Entertainment Programs. Includes Instruction In Theatrical Design, Program Management, Dramatic Production, Rehearsal Management, Personnel Management And Casting, Actor Coaching, Directing Concepts And Techniques, Theater History, Scene Work, Script Interpretation, Business Management, Marketing, Public Relations, And Communications Skills. Continue reading for the key facts every directing & theatrical production student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering directing & theatrical production programs.
Across the country, directing & theatrical production draws strong interest, with 213 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Directing & Theatrical Production Schools ranking analyzes these 45 schools to determine the best overall colleges for directing & theatrical production students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of directing & theatrical production programs later in this article.
Programs in Directing & Theatrical Production develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations directing & theatrical production graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a directing & theatrical production program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a directing & theatrical production major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several directing & theatrical production 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 | 22 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 124 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 66 |
People currently working in careers related to directing & theatrical production tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.5% |
| Master’s degree | 28.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| Some college courses | 2.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in directing & theatrical production careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying directing & theatrical production opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to directing & theatrical production.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to directing & theatrical production.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Talent Directors | 163,716 | -3.3% |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | 136,436 | -2.6% |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | 127,872 | 7.5% |
| Media Programming Directors | 98,123 | 11.2% |
| Actors | 52,034 | 6.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of directing & theatrical production graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 directing & theatrical production graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers directing & theatrical production grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
| Talent Directors | $73,937 |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | $65,049 |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | $51,873 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
| Actors | $45,006 |
With 45 different directing & theatrical production programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased directing & theatrical production school rankings to help you.
Those considering directing & theatrical production, 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 |
| Theatre and Dance | 122 |
| Costume Design | 64 |
| Comedy Writing and Performance | 35 |
| Theatre Literature, History and Criticism | 25 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
