Theater & Drama Degree in Athens, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Athens, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$52K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
17.3 yrs
in Athens
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Athens, GA Overview
Athens, Georgia (pop. 127,064) has 11 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $743/month. 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 Athens is approximately $41,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$12,080/yr
Private Tuition
$42,791/yr
Room & Board
$10,251/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,146/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
50%
Theater & Drama Salary in Athens (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Athens's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Athens adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Athens
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Athens tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,080 | Private avg: $42,791
Athens avg aid: $13,146/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,324
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,150
vs HS diploma in Athens
ROI Payback Period
17.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Athens
$-6,924
Lifetime earnings premium ($82,400) minus total education cost ($89,324)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Athens
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Athens for Theater & Drama
University of Georgia
public
$12,080/yr
$48,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Athens Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Athens
Athens offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Athens Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$40K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$34K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$33K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Macon, GA
$40K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$38K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$45K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$43K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$45K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Athens
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$45K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$43K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$45K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$52K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$43K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Athens — 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 Athens.