Theater & Drama Degree in Lancaster, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Lancaster, CA. 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
20.7 yrs
in Lancaster
Cost of Living
108.2
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Lancaster, CA Overview
Lancaster, California (pop. 173,516) has 7 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 108.2 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,140/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 Lancaster is approximately $43,280.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,522/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,181/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
66%
Theater & Drama Salary in Lancaster (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lancaster's cost of living index of 108.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Lancaster adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Lancaster
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Lancaster tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Lancaster avg aid: $15,181/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$112,088
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,410
vs HS diploma in Lancaster
ROI Payback Period
20.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lancaster
$-25,528
Lifetime earnings premium ($86,560) minus total education cost ($112,088)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Lancaster
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lancaster for Theater & Drama
Lancaster State University
public
$14,869/yr
$59,476 total
University of Lancaster
public
$15,826/yr
$63,304 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lancaster Community College
$6,025/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Lancaster
Lancaster offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lancaster Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$56K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$56K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$52K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$46K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$47K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$45K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$46K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$53K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Lancaster
Chinese Studies
$60K 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
Classical Studies
$49K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$54K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Lancaster — 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 Lancaster.