Theater & Drama Degree in Oxnard, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Oxnard, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.4 yrs
in Oxnard
Cost of Living
111
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Oxnard, CA Overview
Oxnard, California (pop. 202,063) has 17 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 111 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,254/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 Oxnard is approximately $44,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
17
Public Tuition
$6,945/yr
Private Tuition
$55,924/yr
Room & Board
$12,995/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,812/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
74%
Theater & Drama Salary in Oxnard (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Oxnard's cost of living index of 111 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Oxnard adjustment factor: 1.11x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Oxnard
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Oxnard tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,945 | Private avg: $55,924
Oxnard avg aid: $13,812/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,760
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,550
vs HS diploma in Oxnard
ROI Payback Period
14.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Oxnard
$9,040
Lifetime earnings premium ($88,800) minus total education cost ($79,760)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Oxnard
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Oxnard for Theater & Drama
California State University Channel Islands
public
$6,945/yr
$27,780 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Oxnard College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Oxnard
Oxnard offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Oxnard 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 Oxnard
Chinese Studies
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$56K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$49K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$56K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$47K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$49K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$50K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$56K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Oxnard — 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 Oxnard.