Theater & Drama Degree in Riverside, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Riverside, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$60K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
21 yrs
in Riverside
Cost of Living
119
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Riverside, CA Overview
Riverside, California (pop. 314,998) has 20 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 119 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,489/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 Riverside is approximately $47,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$14,169/yr
Private Tuition
$57,035/yr
Room & Board
$17,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,701/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
71%
Theater & Drama Salary in Riverside (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Riverside's cost of living index of 119 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Riverside adjustment factor: 1.19x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Riverside
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Riverside tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,169 | Private avg: $57,035
Riverside avg aid: $13,701/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,950
vs HS diploma in Riverside
ROI Payback Period
21 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Riverside
$-29,944
Lifetime earnings premium ($95,200) minus total education cost ($125,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Riverside
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Riverside for Theater & Drama
University of California, Riverside
public
$14,169/yr
$56,676 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Riverside City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Riverside
Riverside offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Riverside 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 Riverside
Chinese Studies
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$60K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$60K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$50K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$52K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$54K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$60K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Riverside — 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 Riverside.