Bachelor's-7% vs national median387 grads tracked
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Northern Illinois University
Ranked 162nd of 216 bachelor's programs in Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$29,116
middle 50%: $21,301 – $39,135
Median · 5 years out
$39,842
middle 50%: $28,896 – $54,178
Median · 10 years out
$50,930
middle 50%: $37,514 – $73,157
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Drama and Theatre Arts graduates start with a median salary of $29k. Median earnings climb to $51k after a decade.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
10.5 yrs
≈ $12,833 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$40,029 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Illinois University
$39,967 · 5 yrs out
City College of New York - CUNY
$39,935 · 5 yrs out
Truman State University
$39,929 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University, Mankato
$39,919 · 5 yrs out
Valdosta State University
$39,851 · 5 yrs out
Appalachian State University
$39,827 · 5 yrs out
Western Illinois University
$39,818 · 5 yrs out
Coastal Carolina University
$39,776 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$39,769 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$39,752 · 5 yrs out
West Virginia University
$39,679 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Northern Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out