by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Musical Theater involves the study of Musical Theatre. A Program That Focuses On The Principles And Techniques For Integrating Theatre, Music, And Dance Into A Unified Production. Includes Instruction In Acting, Dance, Voice, Technical Theater, Musical Genres, Piano, And History Of Musical Theater. Read on to learn the essential details every musical theater major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering musical theater programs.
In the U.S., musical theater is a widely-pursued major, with 1,157 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Musical Theater Schools ranking analyzes these 120 schools to determine the best overall colleges for musical theater students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of musical theater programs later in this article.
Studies in Musical Theater emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations musical theater graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a musical theater program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a musical theater major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several musical theater 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 | 9 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 52 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,077 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 19 |
People currently working in careers related to musical theater tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 27.9% |
| Master’s degree | 22.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 12.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 3.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in musical theater careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in musical theater can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to musical theater.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to musical theater.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Choreographers | 365,704 | 14.8% |
| Producers and Directors | 355,369 | -3.9% |
| Dancers | 244,405 | 0.9% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 180,947 | 6.4% |
| Talent Directors | 163,716 | -3.3% |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | 136,436 | -2.6% |
| Media Programming Directors | 98,123 | 11.2% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of musical theater graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 musical theater graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers musical theater grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Choreographers | $109,380 |
| Musicians and Singers | $96,571 |
| Media Programming Directors | $90,799 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,515 |
| Dancers | $74,180 |
| Talent Directors | $73,937 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $66,915 |
| Media Technical Directors/Managers | $65,049 |
With 120 different musical theater programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased musical theater school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in musical theater, 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 |
| 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 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
