Theater & Drama Degree in Macon, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Macon, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.1 yrs
in Macon
Cost of Living
101
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Macon, GA Overview
Macon, Georgia (pop. 157,346) has 13 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 101 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,007/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 Macon is approximately $40,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,056/yr
Private Tuition
$40,560/yr
Room & Board
$11,733/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,538/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Theater & Drama Salary in Macon (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Macon's cost of living index of 101 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Macon adjustment factor: 1.01x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Macon
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Macon tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,056 | Private avg: $40,560
Macon avg aid: $10,538/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$91,156
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,050
vs HS diploma in Macon
ROI Payback Period
18.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Macon
$-10,356
Lifetime earnings premium ($80,800) minus total education cost ($91,156)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Macon
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Macon for Theater & Drama
Mercer University
private
$40,560/yr
$162,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Central Georgia Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Macon
Macon offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Macon Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$40K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$34K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Augusta, GA
$33K starting · COL 83
11 colleges
Savannah, GA
$38K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Athens, GA
$41K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$45K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$43K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$45K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Macon
Chinese Studies
$56K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$51K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$44K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$51K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$42K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$44K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$51K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$42K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Macon — 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 Macon.