Theater & Drama Degree in Santa Rosa, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Santa Rosa, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
12.8 yrs
in Santa Rosa
Cost of Living
127
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Santa Rosa, CA Overview
Santa Rosa, California (pop. 178,127) has 12 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 127 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,113/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 Santa Rosa is approximately $50,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$7,724/yr
Private Tuition
$56,404/yr
Room & Board
$12,528/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,165/yr
Unemployment
6.6%
Graduation Rate
47%
Theater & Drama Salary in Santa Rosa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Santa Rosa's cost of living index of 127 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Santa Rosa adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Santa Rosa
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Santa Rosa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,724 | Private avg: $56,404
Santa Rosa avg aid: $13,165/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$81,008
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,350
vs HS diploma in Santa Rosa
ROI Payback Period
12.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Santa Rosa
$20,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($101,600) minus total education cost ($81,008)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Santa Rosa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Santa Rosa for Theater & Drama
Sonoma State University
public
$7,724/yr
$30,896 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Santa Rosa Junior College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa
Chinese Studies
$70K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$64K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$56K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$64K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$53K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$56K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$57K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$64K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Santa Rosa — 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 Santa Rosa.