Theater & Drama Degree in Peoria, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Peoria, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$52K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
20.3 yrs
in Peoria
Cost of Living
103.8
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Peoria, AZ Overview
Peoria, Arizona (pop. 190,985) has 7 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 103.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,185/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 Peoria is approximately $41,520.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$11,400/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,921/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,765/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
49%
Theater & Drama Salary in Peoria (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Peoria's cost of living index of 103.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Peoria adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Peoria
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Peoria tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,400 | Private avg: $24,000
Peoria avg aid: $10,765/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,284
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,190
vs HS diploma in Peoria
ROI Payback Period
20.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Peoria
$-22,244
Lifetime earnings premium ($83,040) minus total education cost ($105,284)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Peoria
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Peoria for Theater & Drama
Peoria State University
public
$12,533/yr
$50,132 total
University of Peoria
public
$10,155/yr
$40,620 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Peoria Community College
$5,359/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Peoria
Peoria offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Peoria Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$61K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$46K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$44K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$50K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$48K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$42K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$50K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$45K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Peoria
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$52K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Peoria — 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 Peoria.