Theater & Drama Degree in Eugene, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Eugene, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
19.3 yrs
in Eugene
Cost of Living
130
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Eugene, OR Overview
Eugene, Oregon (pop. 176,654) has 14 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 130 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,157/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 Eugene is approximately $52,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,720/yr
Private Tuition
$33,710/yr
Room & Board
$18,672/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,904/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
68%
Theater & Drama Salary in Eugene (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Eugene's cost of living index of 130 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Eugene adjustment factor: 1.30x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Eugene
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Eugene tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,720 | Private avg: $33,710
Eugene avg aid: $14,904/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,568
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,500
vs HS diploma in Eugene
ROI Payback Period
19.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Eugene
$-21,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($104,000) minus total education cost ($125,568)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Eugene
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Eugene for Theater & Drama
University of Oregon
public
$12,720/yr
$50,880 total
Northwest Christian University
private
$33,710/yr
$134,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lane Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Eugene
Eugene offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Eugene Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$45K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Salem, OR
$48K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$44K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$46K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$43K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$42K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$44K starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$48K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Eugene
Chinese Studies
$72K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$65K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$57K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$65K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$55K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$57K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$65K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$55K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Eugene — 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 Eugene.