Theater & Drama Degree in Bridgeport, CT — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Bridgeport, CT. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$71K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.7 yrs
in Bridgeport
Cost of Living
141
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Bridgeport, CT Overview
Bridgeport, Connecticut (pop. 148,529) has 11 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 141 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,763/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 Bridgeport is approximately $56,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$13,201/yr
Private Tuition
$35,160/yr
Room & Board
$19,837/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,621/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
69%
Theater & Drama Salary in Bridgeport (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bridgeport's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Bridgeport adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Bridgeport
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Bridgeport tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,201 | Private avg: $35,160
Bridgeport avg aid: $10,621/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$132,152
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,050
vs HS diploma in Bridgeport
ROI Payback Period
18.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bridgeport
$-19,352
Lifetime earnings premium ($112,800) minus total education cost ($132,152)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Bridgeport
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bridgeport for Theater & Drama
University of Bridgeport
private
$35,160/yr
$140,640 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Housatonic Community College
$4,920/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Bridgeport
Bridgeport offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bridgeport Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Connecticut Cities
Stamford, CT
$56K starting · COL 141
7 colleges
New Haven, CT
$49K starting · COL 123
10 colleges
Hartford, CT
$46K starting · COL 116
10 colleges
Waterbury, CT
$56K starting · COL 140
8 colleges
Norwalk, CT
$51K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
Danbury, CT
$46K starting · COL 115.2
4 colleges
New Britain, CT
$44K starting · COL 109.7
3 colleges
West Hartford, CT
$45K starting · COL 112.5
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Bridgeport
Chinese Studies
$78K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$71K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$62K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$71K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$59K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$62K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$63K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$71K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Bridgeport — 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 Bridgeport.