Theater & Drama Degree in Aurora, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Aurora, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18 yrs
in Aurora
Cost of Living
111
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Aurora, CO Overview
Aurora is one of Colorado's top college towns, with 28 institutions and a student population of 20,916. Public tuition averages $11,380/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Aurora is approximately $44,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
28
Public Tuition
$11,380/yr
Private Tuition
$47,322/yr
Room & Board
$13,656/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,981/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
63%
Theater & Drama Salary in Aurora (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Aurora's cost of living index of 111 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Aurora adjustment factor: 1.11x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Aurora
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Aurora tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,380 | Private avg: $47,322
Aurora avg aid: $16,981/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,550
vs HS diploma in Aurora
ROI Payback Period
18 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Aurora
$-11,344
Lifetime earnings premium ($88,800) minus total education cost ($100,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Aurora
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Aurora for Theater & Drama
University of Colorado Anschutz
public
$11,380/yr
$45,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Aurora
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Aurora
Aurora offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Aurora Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$51K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$49K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$50K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$42K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$41K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$42K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$42K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$49K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Aurora
Chinese Studies
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$49K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$56K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$47K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$49K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$56K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Aurora — 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 Aurora.