Theater & Drama Degree in Orlando, FL — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Orlando, FL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$38K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$48K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
13.4 yrs
in Orlando
Cost of Living
96
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Orlando, FL Overview
Orlando, Florida (pop. 307,573) has 16 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 96 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $804/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 Orlando is approximately $38,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$6,368/yr
Private Tuition
$44,990/yr
Room & Board
$9,733/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,728/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
75%
Theater & Drama Salary in Orlando (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Orlando's cost of living index of 96 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Orlando adjustment factor: 0.96x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Orlando
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Orlando tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,368 | Private avg: $44,990
Orlando avg aid: $11,728/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$64,404
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,800
vs HS diploma in Orlando
ROI Payback Period
13.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Orlando
$12,396
Lifetime earnings premium ($76,800) minus total education cost ($64,404)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Orlando
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Orlando for Theater & Drama
University of Central Florida
public
$6,368/yr
$25,472 total
Rollins College
private
$44,990/yr
$179,960 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Valencia College
$3,110/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Orlando
Orlando offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Orlando Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Florida Cities
Jacksonville, FL
$47K starting · COL 117
35 colleges
Miami, FL
$39K starting · COL 98
12 colleges
Tampa, FL
$40K starting · COL 101
26 colleges
St. Petersburg, FL
$39K starting · COL 97
22 colleges
Hialeah, FL
$31K starting · COL 78
22 colleges
Port St. Lucie, FL
$39K starting · COL 98.5
8 colleges
Tallahassee, FL
$36K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Cape Coral, FL
$39K starting · COL 97.8
7 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Orlando
Chinese Studies
$53K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$48K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$42K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$48K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$40K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$42K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$48K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Orlando — 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 Orlando.