Theater & Drama Degree in Norman, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Norman, OK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$34K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$43K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.5 yrs
in Norman
Cost of Living
86
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Norman, OK Overview
Norman, Oklahoma (pop. 128,026) has 10 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 86 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $763/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 Norman is approximately $34,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$6,023/yr
Private Tuition
$37,405/yr
Room & Board
$9,577/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,871/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
65%
Theater & Drama Salary in Norman (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Norman's cost of living index of 86 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Norman adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Norman
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Norman tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,023 | Private avg: $37,405
Norman avg aid: $10,871/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$62,400
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,300
vs HS diploma in Norman
ROI Payback Period
14.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Norman
$6,400
Lifetime earnings premium ($68,800) minus total education cost ($62,400)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Norman
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Norman for Theater & Drama
University of Oklahoma
public
$6,023/yr
$24,092 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Moore Norman Technology Center
$3,870/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Norman
Norman offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Norman Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Oklahoma City, OK
$39K starting · COL 97
37 colleges
Tulsa, OK
$34K starting · COL 84
15 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$37K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$38K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Lawton, OK
$33K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$36K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$36K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$35K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Norman
Chinese Studies
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$38K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$36K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$38K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$43K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$36K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Norman — 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 Norman.