Theater & Drama Degree in Kansas City, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Kansas City, MO. 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
19.3 yrs
in Kansas City
Cost of Living
94
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Kansas City, MO Overview
Kansas City is one of Missouri's top college towns, with 44 institutions and a student population of 48,810. Public tuition averages $11,602/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 Kansas City is approximately $37,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
44
Public Tuition
$11,602/yr
Private Tuition
$28,175/yr
Room & Board
$11,026/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,485/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
45%
Theater & Drama Salary in Kansas City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kansas City'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.Kansas City adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Kansas City
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Kansas City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,602 | Private avg: $28,175
Kansas City avg aid: $15,485/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,512
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,700
vs HS diploma in Kansas City
ROI Payback Period
19.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kansas City
$-15,312
Lifetime earnings premium ($75,200) minus total education cost ($90,512)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Kansas City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kansas City for Theater & Drama
University of Missouri-Kansas City
public
$11,602/yr
$46,408 total
Rockhurst University
private
$42,960/yr
$171,840 total
Park University
private
$13,390/yr
$53,560 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Metropolitan Community College
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Kansas City
Kansas City offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kansas City Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Missouri Cities
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
Independence, MO
$34K starting · COL 85.8
5 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 Kansas City
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 Kansas City — 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 Kansas City.