Theater & Drama Degree in Phoenix, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Phoenix, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.3 yrs
in Phoenix
Cost of Living
152
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Phoenix, AZ Overview
Phoenix is one of Arizona's top college towns, with 72 institutions and a student population of 118,169. Public tuition averages $12,467/year here — near the national average for public universities. 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 Phoenix is approximately $60,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
72
Public Tuition
$12,467/yr
Private Tuition
$22,100/yr
Room & Board
$14,782/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,630/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
53%
Theater & Drama Salary in Phoenix (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Phoenix's cost of living index of 152 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Phoenix adjustment factor: 1.52x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Phoenix
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Phoenix tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,467 | Private avg: $22,100
Phoenix avg aid: $8,630/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$108,996
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,600
vs HS diploma in Phoenix
ROI Payback Period
14.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Phoenix
$12,604
Lifetime earnings premium ($121,600) minus total education cost ($108,996)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Phoenix
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Phoenix for Theater & Drama
Arizona State University
public
$12,467/yr
$49,868 total
Grand Canyon University
private
$17,800/yr
$71,200 total
University of Advancing Technology
private
$26,400/yr
$105,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Maricopa Community Colleges
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Phoenix
Phoenix offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Phoenix Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Arizona Cities
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
Peoria, AZ
$42K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$45K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Phoenix
Chinese Studies
$84K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$76K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$67K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$76K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$64K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$67K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$76K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$64K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Phoenix — 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 Phoenix.