Theater & Drama Degree in Joliet, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Joliet, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$54K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
16.3 yrs
in Joliet
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Joliet, IL Overview
Joliet, Illinois (pop. 150,362) has 12 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $880/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 Joliet is approximately $43,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$8,958/yr
Private Tuition
$36,980/yr
Room & Board
$13,014/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,482/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
70%
Theater & Drama Salary in Joliet (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Joliet's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Joliet adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Joliet
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Joliet tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,958 | Private avg: $36,980
Joliet avg aid: $7,482/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$87,888
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,400
vs HS diploma in Joliet
ROI Payback Period
16.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Joliet
$-1,488
Lifetime earnings premium ($86,400) minus total education cost ($87,888)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Joliet
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Joliet for Theater & Drama
University of St. Francis
private
$36,980/yr
$147,920 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Joliet Junior College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Joliet
Joliet offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Joliet Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$44K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$37K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Naperville, IL
$41K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$36K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$32K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$37K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$42K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$36K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Joliet
Chinese Studies
$59K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$48K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$45K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$48K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$54K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Joliet — 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 Joliet.