Theater & Drama Degree in Elk Grove, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Elk Grove, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$61K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
19.8 yrs
in Elk Grove
Cost of Living
122.1
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Elk Grove, CA Overview
Elk Grove, California (pop. 176,124) has 7 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 122.1 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,620/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 Elk Grove is approximately $48,840.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,727/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,323/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Theater & Drama Salary in Elk Grove (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Elk Grove's cost of living index of 122.1 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Elk Grove adjustment factor: 1.22x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Elk Grove
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Elk Grove tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Elk Grove avg aid: $14,323/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$120,908
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,105
vs HS diploma in Elk Grove
ROI Payback Period
19.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Elk Grove
$-23,228
Lifetime earnings premium ($97,680) minus total education cost ($120,908)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Elk Grove
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Elk Grove for Theater & Drama
Elk Grove State University
public
$14,642/yr
$58,568 total
University of Elk Grove
public
$14,455/yr
$57,820 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Elk Grove Community College
$5,858/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Elk Grove
Elk Grove offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Elk Grove Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$56K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$56K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$52K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$46K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$47K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$45K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$46K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$53K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Elk Grove
Chinese Studies
$67K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$61K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$61K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$51K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$54K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$55K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$61K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Elk Grove — 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 Elk Grove.