Theater & Drama Degree in Hillsboro, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Hillsboro, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.2 yrs
in Hillsboro
Cost of Living
115.5
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Hillsboro, OR Overview
While Hillsboro has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Theater & Drama students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $13,938/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 Hillsboro is approximately $46,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,400/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,938/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,549/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Theater & Drama Salary in Hillsboro (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Hillsboro's cost of living index of 115.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Hillsboro adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Hillsboro
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Hillsboro tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,400 | Private avg: $38,000
Hillsboro avg aid: $9,549/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,352
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,775
vs HS diploma in Hillsboro
ROI Payback Period
18.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Hillsboro
$-12,952
Lifetime earnings premium ($92,400) minus total education cost ($105,352)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Hillsboro
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Hillsboro for Theater & Drama
Hillsboro State University
public
$12,045/yr
$48,180 total
University of Hillsboro
public
$13,855/yr
$55,420 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hillsboro Community College
$5,881/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Hillsboro
Hillsboro offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Hillsboro 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
Gresham, OR
$44K starting · COL 110.2
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 Hillsboro
Chinese Studies
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$58K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$51K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$58K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$49K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$51K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$58K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Hillsboro — 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 Hillsboro.