by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Theater Arts involves the study of Drama And Dramatics/theatre Arts, General. A Program That Focuses On The General Study Of Dramatic Works And Their Performance. Includes Instruction In Major Works Of Dramatic Literature, Dramatic Styles And Types, And The Principles Of Organizing And Producing Full Live Or Filmed Productions. Read on to learn the essential details every theater arts student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering theater arts programs.
In the U.S., theater arts is a popular field of study, with 10,778 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Theater Arts Schools ranking analyzes these 848 schools to determine the best overall colleges for theater arts students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of theater arts programs later in this article.
Coursework for Theater Arts develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations theater arts graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a theater arts program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a theater arts major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several 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 | 328 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,039 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 8,298 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,024 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 86 |
People currently working in careers related to theater arts 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in theater arts careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in theater arts opens doors to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to theater arts.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to theater arts.
| 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% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of theater arts 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 theater arts graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers theater arts 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 848 different theater arts programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased theater arts school rankings to help you.
Students interested in theater arts, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| 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 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
