Theater & Drama Degree in Fort Collins, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Fort Collins, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$63K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
20.3 yrs
in Fort Collins
Cost of Living
126
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Fort Collins, CO Overview
While Fort Collins has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Theater & Drama students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $19,826/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Fort Collins is approximately $50,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,138/yr
Private Tuition
$33,574/yr
Room & Board
$19,826/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,695/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Theater & Drama Salary in Fort Collins (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fort Collins's cost of living index of 126 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Fort Collins adjustment factor: 1.26x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Fort Collins
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Fort Collins tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,138 | Private avg: $33,574
Fort Collins avg aid: $10,695/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,856
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,300
vs HS diploma in Fort Collins
ROI Payback Period
20.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fort Collins
$-27,056
Lifetime earnings premium ($100,800) minus total education cost ($127,856)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Fort Collins
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fort Collins for Theater & Drama
Colorado State University
public
$12,138/yr
$48,552 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Front Range Community College
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Fort Collins
Fort Collins offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fort Collins Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$51K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$49K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$44K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$42K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$41K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$42K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$42K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$49K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Fort Collins
Chinese Studies
$69K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$63K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$55K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$63K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$53K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$55K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$63K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$53K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Fort Collins — 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 Fort Collins.