Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 9 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$31,229 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$31,229Median year-4 earnings
$34,896Average institution net-price context
$17,170Median federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$31,229Median reported earnings · year 4
$20,612Average reported earnings · year 5
$17,170Median federal debt
10thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
9Reporting programs
8With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
CURRENT VIEW
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $31,229
- Federal debt
- $17,170
- Reporting programs
- 9
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $30,146
- Federal debt
- $12,000
- Reporting programs
- 9
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $40,073
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 282
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,713
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 42
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$28,809National median$31,22975th percentile$32,842
8 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
8 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Portland Actors ConservatoryPortland, OR · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$35,889Federal debtNot availableAnnual net priceNot available2Circle in the Square Theatre SchoolNew York, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$32,905Federal debt$20,000Annual net price$28,0893National Conservatory of Dramatic ArtsWashington, DC · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$32,842Federal debtNot availableAnnual net priceNot available4American Musical and Dramatic AcademyNew York, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$31,701Federal debt$12,000Annual net price$41,4165American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New YorkNew York, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$30,757Federal debt$17,170Annual net price$55,5536New York Film AcademyBurbank, CA · Private for-profitYear-4 earnings$28,809Federal debt$9,500Annual net price$39,0117Chattanooga State Community CollegeChattanooga, TN · PublicYear-4 earnings$26,274Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$5,2838Neighborhood Playhouse School of the TheaterNew York City, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$17,500Annual net price$40,023
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Portland Actors Conservatory$35,8892Circle in the Square Theatre School$32,9053National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts$32,8424American Musical and Dramatic Academy$31,7015American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York$30,7576New York Film Academy$28,8097Chattanooga State Community College$26,2748Neighborhood Playhouse School of the TheaterNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1121 · 11 crosswalk linksActorsSOC 27-2011 · 7 crosswalk linksProducers and DirectorsSOC 27-2012 · 5 crosswalk linksEntertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 27-2099 · 4 crosswalk linksChoreographersSOC 27-2032 · 2 crosswalk linksDancersSOC 27-2031 · 2 crosswalk linksWriters and AuthorsSOC 27-3043 · 2 crosswalk linksCostume AttendantsSOC 39-3092 · 1 crosswalk linksFashion DesignersSOC 27-1022 · 1 crosswalk linksMusic Directors and ComposersSOC 27-2041 · 1 crosswalk linksMusicians and SingersSOC 27-2042 · 1 crosswalk linksSet and Exhibit DesignersSOC 27-1027 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland Actors ConservatoryUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Portland, OR | $35,889 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 2 | Circle in the Square Theatre SchoolUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | New York, NY | $32,905 | $20,000 | Baseline needed | $28,089 |
| 3 | National Conservatory of Dramatic ArtsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Washington, DC | $32,842 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 4 | American Musical and Dramatic AcademyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | New York, NY | $31,701 | $12,000 | Baseline needed | $41,416 |
| 5 | American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New YorkUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | New York, NY | $30,757 | $17,170 | Baseline needed | $55,553 |
| 6 | New York Film AcademyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Burbank, CA | $28,809 | $9,500 | Baseline needed | $39,011 |
| 7 | Chattanooga State Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Chattanooga, TN | $26,274 | Not available | Baseline needed | $5,283 |
| 8 | Neighborhood Playhouse School of the TheaterUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | New York City, NY | Not available | $17,500 | Baseline needed | $40,023 |
| 9 | American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los AngelesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $30,757 | $17,170 | Baseline needed | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.