Theater & Drama Degree in Fresno, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Fresno, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
16 yrs
in Fresno
Cost of Living
118
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Fresno, CA Overview
Fresno is one of California's top college towns, with 37 institutions and a student population of 23,836. Public tuition averages $7,302/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 Fresno is approximately $47,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
37
Public Tuition
$7,302/yr
Private Tuition
$24,820/yr
Room & Board
$16,283/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,988/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
65%
Theater & Drama Salary in Fresno (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Fresno's cost of living index of 118 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Fresno adjustment factor: 1.18x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Fresno
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Fresno tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,302 | Private avg: $24,820
Fresno avg aid: $12,988/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$94,340
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,900
vs HS diploma in Fresno
ROI Payback Period
16 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Fresno
$60
Lifetime earnings premium ($94,400) minus total education cost ($94,340)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Fresno
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Fresno for Theater & Drama
California State University, Fresno
public
$7,302/yr
$29,208 total
Fresno Pacific University
private
$36,320/yr
$145,280 total
National University Fresno
private
$13,320/yr
$53,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Fresno City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Fresno
Fresno offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Fresno 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
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
Bakersfield, CA
$54K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Fresno
Chinese Studies
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$59K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$50K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$59K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Fresno — 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 Fresno.