Theater & Drama Degree in Kenosha, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Kenosha, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$53K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.9 yrs
in Kenosha
Cost of Living
106
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Kenosha, WI Overview
Kenosha, Wisconsin (pop. 99,986) has 8 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 106 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $668/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 Kenosha is approximately $42,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$7,620/yr
Private Tuition
$37,840/yr
Room & Board
$12,059/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,562/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Theater & Drama Salary in Kenosha (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kenosha's cost of living index of 106 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Kenosha adjustment factor: 1.06x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Kenosha
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Kenosha tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,620 | Private avg: $37,840
Kenosha avg aid: $15,562/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$78,716
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,300
vs HS diploma in Kenosha
ROI Payback Period
14.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kenosha
$6,084
Lifetime earnings premium ($84,800) minus total education cost ($78,716)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Kenosha
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kenosha for Theater & Drama
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
public
$7,620/yr
$30,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Gateway Technical College
$4,620/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Kenosha
Kenosha offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kenosha Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$38K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Madison, WI
$36K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$34K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Racine, WI
$34K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$32K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$36K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$34K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$43K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Kenosha
Chinese Studies
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$53K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$47K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$45K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$47K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$53K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Kenosha — 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 Kenosha.