Theater & Drama Degree in Gresham, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Gresham, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$55K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
19 yrs
in Gresham
Cost of Living
110.2
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Gresham, OR Overview
While Gresham has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Theater & Drama students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $13,788/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 Gresham is approximately $44,080.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,400/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,788/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,238/yr
Unemployment
3.9%
Graduation Rate
75%
Theater & Drama Salary in Gresham (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Gresham's cost of living index of 110.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Gresham adjustment factor: 1.10x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Gresham
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Gresham tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,400 | Private avg: $38,000
Gresham avg aid: $11,238/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$104,752
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,510
vs HS diploma in Gresham
ROI Payback Period
19 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Gresham
$-16,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($88,160) minus total education cost ($104,752)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Gresham
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Gresham for Theater & Drama
Gresham State University
public
$11,604/yr
$46,416 total
University of Gresham
public
$12,019/yr
$48,076 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Gresham Community College
$5,463/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Gresham
Gresham offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Gresham Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$45K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Eugene, OR
$52K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Salem, OR
$48K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$46K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$43K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$42K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$44K starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$48K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Gresham
Chinese Studies
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$55K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$48K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$55K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$46K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$48K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$55K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$46K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Gresham — 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 Gresham.