Theater & Drama Degree in Independence, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Independence, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$34K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$43K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
21.9 yrs
in Independence
Cost of Living
85.8
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Independence, MO Overview
While Independence has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Theater & Drama students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,276/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 Independence is approximately $34,320.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$30,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,276/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,402/yr
Unemployment
2.6%
Graduation Rate
66%
Theater & Drama Salary in Independence (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Independence's cost of living index of 85.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Independence adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Independence
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Independence tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $30,000
Independence avg aid: $13,402/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,904
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,290
vs HS diploma in Independence
ROI Payback Period
21.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Independence
$-25,264
Lifetime earnings premium ($68,640) minus total education cost ($93,904)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Independence
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Independence for Theater & Drama
Independence State University
public
$10,025/yr
$40,100 total
University of Independence
public
$9,718/yr
$38,872 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Independence Community College
$4,862/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Independence
Independence offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Independence Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$38K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$39K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$32K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Columbia, MO
$34K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$38K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$35K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$36K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$33K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Independence
Chinese Studies
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$38K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$36K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$38K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$43K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$36K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Independence — 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 Independence.