Theater & Drama Degree in Long Beach, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Long Beach, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.9 yrs
in Long Beach
Cost of Living
116
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Long Beach, CA Overview
Long Beach, California (pop. 466,742) has 14 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 116 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,546/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 Long Beach is approximately $46,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$4,169/yr
Private Tuition
$9,960/yr
Room & Board
$17,446/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,553/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
60%
Theater & Drama Salary in Long Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Long Beach's cost of living index of 116 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Long Beach adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Long Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Long Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $4,169 | Private avg: $9,960
Long Beach avg aid: $15,553/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,460
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,800
vs HS diploma in Long Beach
ROI Payback Period
14.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Long Beach
$6,340
Lifetime earnings premium ($92,800) minus total education cost ($86,460)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Long Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Long Beach for Theater & Drama
California State University, Long Beach
public
$6,798/yr
$27,192 total
Long Beach City College
public
$1,540/yr
$6,160 total
Pacific Coast University School of Law
private
$9,960/yr
$39,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Long Beach City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Long Beach
Long Beach offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Long Beach 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
Oakland, CA
$53K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Bakersfield, CA
$54K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Long Beach
Chinese Studies
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$58K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$51K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$58K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$49K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$51K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$58K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Long Beach — 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 Long Beach.