Theater & Drama Degree in Columbia, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Columbia, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$34K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$42K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
21 yrs
in Columbia
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Columbia, MO Overview
Columbia, Missouri (pop. 126,254) has 10 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,005/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 Columbia is approximately $33,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$11,142/yr
Private Tuition
$31,070/yr
Room & Board
$10,910/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,890/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Theater & Drama Salary in Columbia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbia's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Columbia adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Columbia
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Columbia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,142 | Private avg: $31,070
Columbia avg aid: $16,890/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$88,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,200
vs HS diploma in Columbia
ROI Payback Period
21 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbia
$-21,008
Lifetime earnings premium ($67,200) minus total education cost ($88,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Columbia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbia for Theater & Drama
University of Missouri
public
$11,142/yr
$44,568 total
Stephens College
private
$31,070/yr
$124,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Moberly Area Community College Columbia
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Columbia
Columbia offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbia Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$38K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$39K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$32K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Independence, MO
$34K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$38K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$35K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$36K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$33K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Columbia
Chinese Studies
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$42K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$37K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$42K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$35K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$37K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$42K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$35K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Columbia — 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 Columbia.