Theater & Drama Degree in Pomona, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Pomona, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$66K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
14.3 yrs
in Pomona
Cost of Living
131
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Pomona, CA Overview
Pomona, California (pop. 151,348) has 11 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 131 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,430/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 Pomona is approximately $52,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$7,387/yr
Private Tuition
$40,824/yr
Room & Board
$16,037/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,843/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
66%
Theater & Drama Salary in Pomona (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pomona's cost of living index of 131 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Pomona adjustment factor: 1.31x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Pomona
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Pomona tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,387 | Private avg: $40,824
Pomona avg aid: $10,843/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,696
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,550
vs HS diploma in Pomona
ROI Payback Period
14.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pomona
$11,104
Lifetime earnings premium ($104,800) minus total education cost ($93,696)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Pomona
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pomona for Theater & Drama
Cal Poly Pomona
public
$7,387/yr
$29,548 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Mt. San Antonio College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Pomona
Pomona offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pomona 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 Pomona
Chinese Studies
$72K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$66K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$58K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$66K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$55K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$58K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$59K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$66K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Pomona — 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 Pomona.