Theater & Drama Degree in Fontana, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Fontana, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$53K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
22.9 yrs
in Fontana
Cost of Living
106
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Fontana, CA Overview
Fontana, California (pop. 214,547) has 18 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 106 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,423/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 Fontana is approximately $42,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
18
Public Tuition
$11,333/yr
Private Tuition
$38,840/yr
Room & Board
$18,944/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,336/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
61%
Theater & Drama Salary in Fontana (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fontana's cost of living index of 106 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Fontana adjustment factor: 1.06x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Fontana
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Fontana tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,333 | Private avg: $38,840
Fontana avg aid: $11,336/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$121,108
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,300
vs HS diploma in Fontana
ROI Payback Period
22.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fontana
$-36,308
Lifetime earnings premium ($84,800) minus total education cost ($121,108)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Fontana
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fontana for Theater & Drama
California Baptist University Fontana
private
$38,840/yr
$155,360 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Chaffey College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Fontana
Fontana offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fontana 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 Fontana
Chinese Studies
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$53K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$47K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$45K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$47K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$48K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$53K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Fontana — 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 Fontana.