Theater & Drama Degree in Reading, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Reading, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
24.7 yrs
in Reading
Cost of Living
118
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Reading, PA Overview
While Reading has a smaller college scene with 3 institutions, Theater & Drama students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $21,301/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. 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 Reading is approximately $47,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
3
Public Tuition
$15,201/yr
Private Tuition
$37,128/yr
Room & Board
$21,301/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,361/yr
Unemployment
6.7%
Graduation Rate
63%
Theater & Drama Salary in Reading (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Reading's cost of living index of 118 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Reading adjustment factor: 1.18x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Reading
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Reading tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,201 | Private avg: $37,128
Reading avg aid: $13,361/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$146,008
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,900
vs HS diploma in Reading
ROI Payback Period
24.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Reading
$-51,608
Lifetime earnings premium ($94,400) minus total education cost ($146,008)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Reading
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Reading for Theater & Drama
Alvernia University
private
$37,128/yr
$148,512 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Reading Area Community College
$5,070/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Reading
Reading offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Reading Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Philadelphia, PA
$60K starting · COL 150
42 colleges
Pittsburgh, PA
$46K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$45K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Erie, PA
$48K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$38K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$48K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$50K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$37K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Reading
Chinese Studies
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$59K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$50K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$59K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$50K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Reading — 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 Reading.