Theater & Drama Degree in Glendale, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Glendale, AZ. 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
20.1 yrs
in Glendale
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Glendale, AZ Overview
Glendale, Arizona (pop. 248,325) has 16 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 105 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,370/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 Glendale is approximately $42,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$12,652/yr
Private Tuition
$44,500/yr
Room & Board
$13,685/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,168/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
53%
Theater & Drama Salary in Glendale (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Glendale's cost of living index of 105 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Glendale adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Glendale
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Glendale tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,652 | Private avg: $44,500
Glendale avg aid: $14,168/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,348
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,250
vs HS diploma in Glendale
ROI Payback Period
20.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Glendale
$-21,348
Lifetime earnings premium ($84,000) minus total education cost ($105,348)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Glendale
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Glendale for Theater & Drama
Midwestern University
private
$44,500/yr
$178,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Glendale Community College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Glendale
Glendale offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Glendale Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$61K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$46K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$44K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$50K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$48K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$50K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$42K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$45K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Glendale
Chinese Studies
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$53K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$53K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Glendale — 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 Glendale.