Theater & Drama Degree in Akron, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Akron, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$53K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
15.3 yrs
in Akron
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Akron, OH Overview
While Akron has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Theater & Drama students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $8,745/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Although national enrollment in Theater & Drama has been declining, graduates with skills in Acting and Directing remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Akron is approximately $42,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,330/yr
Private Tuition
$45,325/yr
Room & Board
$8,745/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,336/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Theater & Drama Salary in Akron (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Akron's cost of living index of 105 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Akron adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Akron
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Akron tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,330 | Private avg: $45,325
Akron avg aid: $8,336/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,250
vs HS diploma in Akron
ROI Payback Period
15.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Akron
$3,700
Lifetime earnings premium ($84,000) minus total education cost ($80,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Akron
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Akron for Theater & Drama
University of Akron
public
$11,330/yr
$45,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Stark State College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Akron
Akron offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Akron Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$41K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$38K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$41K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$43K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Dayton, OH
$42K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$36K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$34K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$34K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Akron
Chinese Studies
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$53K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$53K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Akron — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Theater & Drama ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Akron.