Theater & Drama Degree in Lansing, MI — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Lansing, MI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$34K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$43K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
22.3 yrs
in Lansing
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Lansing, MI Overview
Lansing, Michigan (pop. 112,644) has 6 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $733/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 Lansing is approximately $34,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$14,460/yr
Private Tuition
$35,667/yr
Room & Board
$9,189/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,827/yr
Unemployment
6.1%
Graduation Rate
59%
Theater & Drama Salary in Lansing (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lansing's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Lansing adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Lansing
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Lansing tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,460 | Private avg: $35,667
Lansing avg aid: $12,827/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$94,596
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,250
vs HS diploma in Lansing
ROI Payback Period
22.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lansing
$-26,596
Lifetime earnings premium ($68,000) minus total education cost ($94,596)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Lansing
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lansing for Theater & Drama
Michigan State University
public
$14,460/yr
$57,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lansing Community College
$4,296/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Lansing
Lansing offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lansing Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Michigan Cities
Detroit, MI
$35K starting · COL 87
43 colleges
Grand Rapids, MI
$35K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Warren, MI
$35K starting · COL 88.5
6 colleges
Sterling Heights, MI
$37K starting · COL 92.8
5 colleges
Ann Arbor, MI
$34K starting · COL 85
14 colleges
Dearborn, MI
$36K starting · COL 90.5
5 colleges
Clinton Township, MI
$38K starting · COL 96.2
4 colleges
Canton Township, MI
$37K starting · COL 93.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Lansing
Chinese Studies
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$37K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$36K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$37K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$43K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$36K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Lansing — 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 Lansing.