Best Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Degrees in California by ROI
Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in California
8
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$255,739
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$51,664
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
California State University-Fullerton
Grad rate: 69.3% |
-$105,894 | $38,382 | $16,767 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
University of California-San Diego
Grad rate: 87.7% |
-$160,210 | $37,622 | $36,325 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
California State University-Northridge
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$179,794 | $35,042 | $20,317 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
University of California-Santa Cruz
Grad rate: 75.7% |
-$183,758 | $36,677 | $38,649 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
California Institute of the Arts
Grad rate: 64.0% |
-$262,150 | $36,735 | $78,425 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Loyola Marymount University
Grad rate: 80.6% |
-$301,234 | $34,525 | $75,867 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
University of Southern California
Grad rate: 92.2% |
-$383,496 | $31,293 | $84,678 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
New York Film Academy
Grad rate: 69.4% |
-$469,382 | $24,760 | $62,291 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Degrees by State
Browse Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.