Theater & Drama Degree in Des Moines, IA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Des Moines, IA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$37K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$46K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
15.3 yrs
in Des Moines
Cost of Living
92
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Des Moines, IA Overview
Des Moines, Iowa (pop. 214,133) has 10 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 92 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $975/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 Des Moines is approximately $36,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$8,977/yr
Private Tuition
$38,388/yr
Room & Board
$8,658/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,739/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
56%
Theater & Drama Salary in Des Moines (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Des Moines's cost of living index of 92 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Des Moines adjustment factor: 0.92x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Des Moines
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Des Moines tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,977 | Private avg: $38,388
Des Moines avg aid: $9,739/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$70,540
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,600
vs HS diploma in Des Moines
ROI Payback Period
15.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Des Moines
$3,060
Lifetime earnings premium ($73,600) minus total education cost ($70,540)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Des Moines
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Des Moines for Theater & Drama
Drake University
private
$45,520/yr
$182,080 total
Grand View University
private
$31,256/yr
$125,024 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Des Moines Area Community College
$5,064/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Des Moines
Des Moines offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Des Moines Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Iowa Cities
Cedar Rapids, IA
$40K starting · COL 100
4 colleges
Davenport, IA
$32K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Sioux City, IA
$34K starting · COL 84
2 colleges
Iowa City, IA
$38K starting · COL 95.2
3 colleges
West Des Moines, IA
$39K starting · COL 97.5
3 colleges
Ankeny, IA
$38K starting · COL 95.8
3 colleges
Waterloo, IA
$33K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Ames, IA
$35K starting · COL 87
8 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Des Moines
Chinese Studies
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$46K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$40K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$39K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$40K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$41K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$46K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Des Moines — 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 Des Moines.