Theater & Drama Degree in Lowell, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Lowell, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
21.9 yrs
in Lowell
Cost of Living
112.5
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Lowell, MA Overview
While Lowell has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Theater & Drama students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,748/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Lowell is approximately $45,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$16,100/yr
Private Tuition
$48,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,748/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,502/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
73%
Theater & Drama Salary in Lowell (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lowell's cost of living index of 112.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Lowell adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Lowell
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Lowell tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,100 | Private avg: $48,000
Lowell avg aid: $14,502/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,625
vs HS diploma in Lowell
ROI Payback Period
21.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lowell
$-33,392
Lifetime earnings premium ($90,000) minus total education cost ($123,392)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Lowell
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lowell for Theater & Drama
Lowell State University
public
$16,448/yr
$65,792 total
University of Lowell
public
$18,005/yr
$72,020 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lowell Community College
$6,184/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Lowell
Lowell offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lowell Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$55K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$47K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$53K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$53K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Brockton, MA
$43K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$51K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$41K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$47K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Lowell
Chinese Studies
$62K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$50K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$56K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$47K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$50K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$56K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Lowell — 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 Lowell.