Theater & Drama Degree in Scottsdale, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Scottsdale, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$63K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10.7 yrs
in Scottsdale
Cost of Living
126
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Scottsdale, AZ Overview
Scottsdale, Arizona (pop. 241,361) has 16 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 126 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,416/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 Scottsdale is approximately $50,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$2,580/yr
Private Tuition
$47,544/yr
Room & Board
$14,253/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,836/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
50%
Theater & Drama Salary in Scottsdale (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Scottsdale's cost of living index of 126 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Scottsdale adjustment factor: 1.26x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Scottsdale
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Scottsdale tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $2,580 | Private avg: $47,544
Scottsdale avg aid: $14,836/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$67,332
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,300
vs HS diploma in Scottsdale
ROI Payback Period
10.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Scottsdale
$33,468
Lifetime earnings premium ($100,800) minus total education cost ($67,332)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Scottsdale
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Scottsdale for Theater & Drama
Scottsdale Community College
public
$2,580/yr
$10,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Scottsdale Community College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Scottsdale
Scottsdale offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Scottsdale Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$61K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$46K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$44K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$50K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$48K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$42K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$42K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$45K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Scottsdale
Chinese Studies
$69K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$63K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$55K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$63K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$53K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$55K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$63K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$53K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Scottsdale — 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 Scottsdale.