Theater & Drama Degree in Oceanside, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Oceanside, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$57K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$71K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
17.7 yrs
in Oceanside
Cost of Living
142.1
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Oceanside, CA Overview
Oceanside, California (pop. 176,218) has 7 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 142.1 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,040/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 Oceanside is approximately $56,840.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$16,998/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,512/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
56%
Theater & Drama Salary in Oceanside (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Oceanside's cost of living index of 142.1 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Oceanside adjustment factor: 1.42x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Oceanside
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Oceanside tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Oceanside avg aid: $8,512/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,992
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,105
vs HS diploma in Oceanside
ROI Payback Period
17.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Oceanside
$-12,312
Lifetime earnings premium ($113,680) minus total education cost ($125,992)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Oceanside
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Oceanside for Theater & Drama
Oceanside State University
public
$14,298/yr
$57,192 total
University of Oceanside
public
$12,583/yr
$50,332 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Oceanside Community College
$5,853/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Oceanside
Oceanside offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Oceanside 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 Oceanside
Chinese Studies
$78K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$71K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$63K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$71K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$60K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$63K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$64K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$71K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Oceanside — 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 Oceanside.