Theater & Drama Degree in San Bernardino, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for San Bernardino, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$52K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
15.7 yrs
in San Bernardino
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in San Bernardino, CA Overview
San Bernardino is one of California's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 21,939. Public tuition averages $7,316/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 San Bernardino is approximately $41,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$7,316/yr
Private Tuition
$48,781/yr
Room & Board
$13,152/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,226/yr
Unemployment
6.1%
Graduation Rate
63%
Theater & Drama Salary in San Bernardino (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for San Bernardino's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.San Bernardino adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for San Bernardino
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local San Bernardino tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,316 | Private avg: $48,781
San Bernardino avg aid: $15,226/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,872
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,200
vs HS diploma in San Bernardino
ROI Payback Period
15.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in San Bernardino
$1,328
Lifetime earnings premium ($83,200) minus total education cost ($81,872)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in San Bernardino
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in San Bernardino for Theater & Drama
California State University, San Bernardino
public
$7,316/yr
$29,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
San Bernardino Valley College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in San Bernardino
San Bernardino offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$47K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$52K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in San Bernardino — 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 San Bernardino.