Theater & Drama Degree in Elgin, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Elgin, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$32K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$40K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
20.3 yrs
in Elgin
Cost of Living
79
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Elgin, IL Overview
Elgin, Illinois (pop. 114,797) has 13 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 79 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,008/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 Elgin is approximately $31,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$10,014/yr
Private Tuition
$30,900/yr
Room & Board
$9,983/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,897/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
47%
Theater & Drama Salary in Elgin (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Elgin's cost of living index of 79 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Elgin adjustment factor: 0.79x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Elgin
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Elgin tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,014 | Private avg: $30,900
Elgin avg aid: $15,897/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$3,950
vs HS diploma in Elgin
ROI Payback Period
20.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Elgin
$-16,788
Lifetime earnings premium ($63,200) minus total education cost ($79,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Elgin
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Elgin for Theater & Drama
Judson University
private
$30,900/yr
$123,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Elgin Community College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Elgin
Elgin offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Elgin Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$44K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$37K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$43K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$41K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$36K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Springfield, IL
$37K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$42K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$36K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Elgin
Chinese Studies
$43K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$40K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$35K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$40K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$33K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$35K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$40K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$33K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Elgin — 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 Elgin.