Theater & Drama Degree in Mobile, AL — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Mobile, AL. 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
20 yrs
in Mobile
Cost of Living
98
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Mobile, AL Overview
Mobile, Alabama (pop. 187,041) has 12 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 98 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,083/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 Mobile is approximately $39,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$11,100/yr
Private Tuition
$41,360/yr
Room & Board
$13,457/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,004/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
73%
Theater & Drama Salary in Mobile (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Mobile's cost of living index of 98 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Mobile adjustment factor: 0.98x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Mobile
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Mobile tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,100 | Private avg: $41,360
Mobile avg aid: $12,004/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$98,228
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,900
vs HS diploma in Mobile
ROI Payback Period
20 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Mobile
$-19,828
Lifetime earnings premium ($78,400) minus total education cost ($98,228)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Mobile
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Mobile for Theater & Drama
University of South Alabama
public
$11,100/yr
$44,400 total
Spring Hill College
private
$41,360/yr
$165,440 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bishop State Community College
$4,800/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Mobile
Mobile offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Mobile Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Alabama Cities
Huntsville, AL
$39K starting · COL 98
21 colleges
Birmingham, AL
$35K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Montgomery, AL
$37K starting · COL 92
21 colleges
Tuscaloosa, AL
$31K starting · COL 78
8 colleges
Hoover, AL
$38K starting · COL 95.8
4 colleges
Auburn, AL
$41K starting · COL 103
2 colleges
Dothan, AL
$33K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Decatur, AL
$33K starting · COL 82.8
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Mobile
Chinese Studies
$54K 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
Classical Studies
$44K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$49K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Mobile — 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 Mobile.