Theater & Drama Degree in Las Cruces, NM — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Las Cruces, NM. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
17.5 yrs
in Las Cruces
Cost of Living
123
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Las Cruces, NM Overview
Las Cruces, New Mexico (pop. 111,385) has 12 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 123 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,443/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 Las Cruces is approximately $49,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$7,554/yr
Private Tuition
$45,711/yr
Room & Board
$19,302/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,870/yr
Unemployment
6.7%
Graduation Rate
60%
Theater & Drama Salary in Las Cruces (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Las Cruces's cost of living index of 123 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Las Cruces adjustment factor: 1.23x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Las Cruces
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Las Cruces tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,554 | Private avg: $45,711
Las Cruces avg aid: $11,870/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$107,424
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,150
vs HS diploma in Las Cruces
ROI Payback Period
17.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Las Cruces
$-9,024
Lifetime earnings premium ($98,400) minus total education cost ($107,424)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Las Cruces
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Las Cruces for Theater & Drama
New Mexico State University
public
$7,554/yr
$30,216 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Dona Ana Community College
$1,848/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Las Cruces
Las Cruces offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Las Cruces Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby New Mexico Cities
Other Humanities Majors in Las Cruces
Chinese Studies
$68K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$62K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$62K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$52K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$54K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$62K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$52K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Las Cruces — 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 Las Cruces.