Theater & Drama Degree in Indianapolis, IN — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Indianapolis, IN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$38K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$47K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
19.1 yrs
in Indianapolis
Cost of Living
94
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Indianapolis, IN Overview
Indianapolis is one of Indiana's top college towns, with 25 institutions and a student population of 38,913. Public tuition averages $9,944/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 Indianapolis is approximately $37,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
25
Public Tuition
$9,944/yr
Private Tuition
$39,815/yr
Room & Board
$12,486/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,595/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
56%
Theater & Drama Salary in Indianapolis (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Indianapolis's cost of living index of 94 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Indianapolis adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Indianapolis
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Indianapolis tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,944 | Private avg: $39,815
Indianapolis avg aid: $12,595/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$89,720
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,700
vs HS diploma in Indianapolis
ROI Payback Period
19.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Indianapolis
$-14,520
Lifetime earnings premium ($75,200) minus total education cost ($89,720)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Indianapolis
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Indianapolis for Theater & Drama
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
public
$9,944/yr
$39,776 total
Butler University
private
$46,710/yr
$186,840 total
University of Indianapolis
private
$32,920/yr
$131,680 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ivy Tech Community College
$4,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Indianapolis
Indianapolis offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Indianapolis Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Indiana Cities
Fort Wayne, IN
$41K starting · COL 103
24 colleges
Evansville, IN
$34K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
South Bend, IN
$36K starting · COL 89
9 colleges
Carmel, IN
$42K starting · COL 105.2
4 colleges
Fishers, IN
$40K starting · COL 100.5
4 colleges
Bloomington, IN
$33K starting · COL 83
5 colleges
Hammond, IN
$37K starting · COL 93.1
4 colleges
Lafayette, IN
$34K starting · COL 84.8
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Indianapolis
Chinese Studies
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$47K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$41K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$47K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$39K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$41K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$47K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$39K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Indianapolis — 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 Indianapolis.