Theater & Drama Degree in Plano, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Plano, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$34K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$43K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
13.6 yrs
in Plano
Cost of Living
85
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Plano, TX Overview
Plano, Texas (pop. 285,494) has 9 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $849/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 Plano is approximately $34,000.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$2,220/yr
Private Tuition
$39,702/yr
Room & Board
$12,277/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,063/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
57%
Theater & Drama Salary in Plano (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Plano's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Plano adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Plano
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Plano tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $2,220 | Private avg: $39,702
Plano avg aid: $15,063/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$57,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,250
vs HS diploma in Plano
ROI Payback Period
13.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Plano
$10,012
Lifetime earnings premium ($68,000) minus total education cost ($57,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Plano
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Plano for Theater & Drama
Collin College University Center
public
$2,220/yr
$8,880 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Collin College
$2,220/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Plano
Plano offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Plano Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$46K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$48K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$42K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$43K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$40K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$37K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$37K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$33K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Plano
Chinese Studies
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$37K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$36K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$37K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$43K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$36K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Plano — 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 Plano.