Theater & Drama Degree in Boise, ID — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Boise, ID. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$61K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.3 yrs
in Boise
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Boise, ID Overview
Boise is one of Idaho's top college towns, with 27 institutions and a student population of 13,506. Public tuition averages $8,060/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 Boise is approximately $48,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
27
Public Tuition
$8,060/yr
Private Tuition
$34,250/yr
Room & Board
$13,521/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,294/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
58%
Theater & Drama Salary in Boise (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Boise's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Boise adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Boise
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Boise tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,060 | Private avg: $34,250
Boise avg aid: $15,294/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,324
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,050
vs HS diploma in Boise
ROI Payback Period
14.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Boise
$10,476
Lifetime earnings premium ($96,800) minus total education cost ($86,324)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Boise
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Boise for Theater & Drama
Boise State University
public
$8,060/yr
$32,240 total
College of Idaho
private
$34,250/yr
$137,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
College of Western Idaho
$3,456/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Boise
Boise offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Boise Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Idaho Cities
Meridian, ID
$42K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Nampa, ID
$38K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Idaho Falls, ID
$37K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Caldwell, ID
$37K starting · COL 92.8
3 colleges
Pocatello, ID
$47K starting · COL 118
6 colleges
Coeur d'Alene, ID
$42K starting · COL 105.2
3 colleges
Twin Falls, ID
$50K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Boise
Chinese Studies
$67K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$61K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$61K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$51K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$53K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$61K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Boise — 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 Boise.