Theater & Drama Degree in Medford, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Medford, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.2 yrs
in Medford
Cost of Living
111
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Medford, OR Overview
While Medford has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Theater & Drama students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,881/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 Medford is approximately $44,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,326/yr
Private Tuition
$41,865/yr
Room & Board
$14,881/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,464/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
67%
Theater & Drama Salary in Medford (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Medford's cost of living index of 111 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Medford adjustment factor: 1.11x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Medford
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Medford tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,326 | Private avg: $41,865
Medford avg aid: $14,464/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$100,828
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,550
vs HS diploma in Medford
ROI Payback Period
18.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Medford
$-12,028
Lifetime earnings premium ($88,800) minus total education cost ($100,828)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Medford
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Medford for Theater & Drama
Southern Oregon University
public
$10,326/yr
$41,304 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Rogue Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Medford
Medford offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Medford Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$45K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Eugene, OR
$52K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Salem, OR
$48K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$44K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$46K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$43K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$42K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$48K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Medford
Chinese Studies
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$49K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$56K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$47K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$49K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$56K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Medford — 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 Medford.