Theater & Drama Degree in Jackson, MS — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Jackson, MS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$37K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$47K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.5 yrs
in Jackson
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Jackson, MS Overview
Jackson, Mississippi (pop. 153,701) has 11 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $855/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 Jackson is approximately $37,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$8,684/yr
Private Tuition
$27,400/yr
Room & Board
$12,839/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,629/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
62%
Theater & Drama Salary in Jackson (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jackson's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Jackson adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Jackson
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Jackson tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,684 | Private avg: $27,400
Jackson avg aid: $14,629/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,092
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,650
vs HS diploma in Jackson
ROI Payback Period
18.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jackson
$-11,692
Lifetime earnings premium ($74,400) minus total education cost ($86,092)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Jackson
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jackson for Theater & Drama
Jackson State University
public
$8,684/yr
$34,736 total
Belhaven University
private
$27,400/yr
$109,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hinds Community College
$3,300/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Jackson
Jackson offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jackson Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Mississippi Cities
Other Humanities Majors in Jackson
Chinese Studies
$51K 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
Classical Studies
$42K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$47K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Jackson — 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 Jackson.