Theater & Drama Degree in Frederick, MD — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Frederick, MD. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.7 yrs
in Frederick
Cost of Living
112.5
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Frederick, MD Overview
While Frederick has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Theater & Drama students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,475/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 Frederick is approximately $45,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,800/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,475/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,491/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
66%
Theater & Drama Salary in Frederick (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Frederick's cost of living index of 112.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Frederick adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Frederick
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Frederick tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,800 | Private avg: $42,000
Frederick avg aid: $13,491/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,100
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,625
vs HS diploma in Frederick
ROI Payback Period
18.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Frederick
$-15,100
Lifetime earnings premium ($90,000) minus total education cost ($105,100)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Frederick
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Frederick for Theater & Drama
Frederick State University
public
$11,147/yr
$44,588 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Frederick Community College
$6,149/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Frederick
Frederick offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Frederick Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Maryland Cities
Baltimore, MD
$52K starting · COL 130
22 colleges
Columbia, MD
$51K starting · COL 127.2
4 colleges
Silver Spring, MD
$49K starting · COL 122.5
4 colleges
Waldorf, MD
$48K starting · COL 120.7
4 colleges
Ellicott City, MD
$46K starting · COL 114.2
3 colleges
Glen Burnie, MD
$44K starting · COL 108.8
3 colleges
Rockville, MD
$51K starting · COL 128.5
3 colleges
Bethesda, MD
$47K starting · COL 116.7
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Frederick
Chinese Studies
$62K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$50K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$56K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$47K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$50K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$56K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Frederick — 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 Frederick.