Theater & Drama Degree in Minneapolis, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Minneapolis, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$39K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$49K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
22.7 yrs
in Minneapolis
Cost of Living
97
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Minneapolis, MN Overview
Minneapolis, Minnesota (pop. 429,954) has 15 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 97 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $805/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 Minneapolis is approximately $38,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
15
Public Tuition
$15,142/yr
Private Tuition
$45,823/yr
Room & Board
$12,394/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,033/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
61%
Theater & Drama Salary in Minneapolis (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Minneapolis's cost of living index of 97 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Minneapolis adjustment factor: 0.97x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Minneapolis
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Minneapolis tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,142 | Private avg: $45,823
Minneapolis avg aid: $14,033/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$110,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,850
vs HS diploma in Minneapolis
ROI Payback Period
22.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Minneapolis
$-32,544
Lifetime earnings premium ($77,600) minus total education cost ($110,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Minneapolis
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Minneapolis for Theater & Drama
University of Minnesota
public
$15,142/yr
$60,568 total
University of St. Thomas
private
$49,716/yr
$198,864 total
Augsburg University
private
$41,930/yr
$167,720 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Minneapolis College
$5,772/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Minneapolis
Minneapolis offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Minneapolis Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Saint Paul, MN
$41K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
St. Paul, MN
$43K starting · COL 108
20 colleges
Rochester, MN
$42K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$40K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$40K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$40K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$43K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$43K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Minneapolis
Chinese Studies
$53K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$49K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$49K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$41K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$43K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$49K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Minneapolis — 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 Minneapolis.