Theater & Drama Degree in Little Rock, AR — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Little Rock, AR. 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
21.8 yrs
in Little Rock
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Little Rock, AR Overview
Little Rock is one of Arkansas's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 18,659. Public tuition averages $9,312/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 Little Rock is approximately $34,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$9,312/yr
Private Tuition
$13,320/yr
Room & Board
$13,863/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,402/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Theater & Drama Salary in Little Rock (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Little Rock'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.Little Rock adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Little Rock
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Little Rock tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,312 | Private avg: $13,320
Little Rock avg aid: $15,402/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$92,700
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,250
vs HS diploma in Little Rock
ROI Payback Period
21.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Little Rock
$-24,700
Lifetime earnings premium ($68,000) minus total education cost ($92,700)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Little Rock
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Little Rock for Theater & Drama
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
public
$9,312/yr
$37,248 total
Philander Smith University
private
$13,320/yr
$53,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pulaski Technical College
$3,800/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Little Rock
Little Rock offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Little Rock Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Arkansas Cities
Fayetteville, AR
$36K starting · COL 89
4 colleges
Fort Smith, AR
$31K starting · COL 78.5
4 colleges
Springdale, AR
$34K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Jonesboro, AR
$33K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Rogers, AR
$35K starting · COL 88.2
3 colleges
Conway, AR
$34K starting · COL 84.5
3 colleges
North Little Rock, AR
$35K starting · COL 86.6
3 colleges
Bentonville, AR
$37K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Little Rock
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
Classical Studies
$38K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$43K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Little Rock — 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 Little Rock.