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Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft bachelor's degree at Emerson College

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.

$4,985 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
55.9% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−101% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$44,760 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+74%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$19,560 → $33,947
72Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
28Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
113Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
136Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$111,733Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

320Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
64Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
110Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
250Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
123Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$44,760$9,952 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 66 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$49,180

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$25,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$44,760

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$265/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$49,180Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$80,399Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE51.3%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE77.1%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$19,560Year 1
$44,760Year 4
$33,947Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

7.1% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$3,730
Estimated loan payment$265
136borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$44,760 vs. $39,775

$4,985 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$85,820 median wageMA estimate · 4,960 jobs · 25-1121$65,760–$111,710 middle 50% of MA wages+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeActorsNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 660 jobs · 27-2011+0.0% projected U.S. growth · 6,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Some college, no degreeProducers and Directors$80,970 median wageMA estimate · 3,440 jobs · 27-2012$60,220–$105,940 middle 50% of MA wages+4.0% projected U.S. growth · 12,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEntertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All OtherNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 140 jobs · 27-2099+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4,500 openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialWriters and Authors$85,260 median wageMA estimate · 1,350 jobs · 27-3043$67,770–$108,030 middle 50% of MA wages-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 11,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChoreographers$55,310 median wageU.S. estimate · 2,860 jobs · 27-2032+3.1% projected U.S. growth · 600 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentDancersNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 8,130 jobs · 27-2031+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 1,600 openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialFashion Designers$103,520 median wageMA estimate · 540 jobs · 27-1022$81,390–$138,880 middle 50% of MA wages+0.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMusic Directors and Composers$78,620 median wageMA estimate · 340 jobs · 27-2041$63,800–$114,150 middle 50% of MA wages+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 4,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSet and Exhibit Designers$74,540 median wageMA estimate · 230 jobs · 27-1027$56,400–$100,200 middle 50% of MA wages+1.4% projected U.S. growth · 2,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCostume Attendants$55,190 median wageMA estimate · 90 jobs · 39-3092$43,350–$58,410 middle 50% of MA wages+5.9% projected U.S. growth · 1,700 openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentMusicians and SingersNot available median wageU.S. estimate · 680 jobs · 27-2042+0.3% projected U.S. growth · 17,400 openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credential
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Waltham, MA

Brandeis University

$13,916 higher earnings · $13,444 lower annual net price

Earnings
$58,676
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$35,736
View outcomes →
Boston, MA

Suffolk University

$19,562 lower annual net price

Earnings
$43,553
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$29,618
View outcomes →
Boston, MA

Boston University

$24,778 lower annual net price

Earnings
$39,322
Debt
$26,958
Annual net price
$24,402
View outcomes →
Franklin, MA

Dean College

$18,496 lower annual net price

Earnings
$36,724
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$30,684
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

113 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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