Theater & Drama Degree in Overland Park, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Overland Park, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$52K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
11.7 yrs
in Overland Park
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Overland Park, KS Overview
Overland Park, Kansas (pop. 197,238) has 13 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,092/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 Overland Park is approximately $41,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$3,564/yr
Private Tuition
$48,279/yr
Room & Board
$11,548/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,390/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
54%
Theater & Drama Salary in Overland Park (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Overland Park's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Overland Park adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Overland Park
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Overland Park tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $3,564 | Private avg: $48,279
Overland Park avg aid: $9,390/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$60,448
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,150
vs HS diploma in Overland Park
ROI Payback Period
11.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Overland Park
$21,952
Lifetime earnings premium ($82,400) minus total education cost ($60,448)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Overland Park
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Overland Park for Theater & Drama
Johnson County Community College
public
$3,564/yr
$14,256 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Johnson County Community College
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Overland Park
Overland Park offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Overland Park Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$42K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$33K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Olathe, KS
$39K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$34K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$43K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$35K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$38K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$38K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Overland Park
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$45K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$43K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$45K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$52K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$43K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Overland Park — 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 Overland Park.