Theater & Drama Degree in Modesto, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Modesto, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12.2 yrs
in Modesto
Cost of Living
130
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Modesto, CA Overview
Modesto, California (pop. 218,464) has 9 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 130 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,224/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 Modesto is approximately $52,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$1,540/yr
Private Tuition
$57,167/yr
Room & Board
$18,295/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,378/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
63%
Theater & Drama Salary in Modesto (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Modesto's cost of living index of 130 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Modesto adjustment factor: 1.30x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Modesto
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Modesto tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $1,540 | Private avg: $57,167
Modesto avg aid: $10,378/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,340
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,500
vs HS diploma in Modesto
ROI Payback Period
12.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Modesto
$24,660
Lifetime earnings premium ($104,000) minus total education cost ($79,340)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Modesto
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Modesto for Theater & Drama
Modesto Junior College
public
$1,540/yr
$6,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Modesto Junior College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Modesto
Modesto offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Modesto Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$56K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$56K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$52K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$46K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$47K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$45K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$46K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$53K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Modesto
Chinese Studies
$72K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$65K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$57K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$65K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$55K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$57K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$59K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$65K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Modesto — 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 Modesto.