Theater & Drama Degree in Sparks, NV — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Sparks, NV. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$53K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18 yrs
in Sparks
Cost of Living
105.2
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Sparks, NV Overview
While Sparks has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Theater & Drama students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,754/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 Sparks is approximately $42,080.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,900/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,754/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,917/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
64%
Theater & Drama Salary in Sparks (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Sparks's cost of living index of 105.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Sparks adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Sparks
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Sparks tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,900 | Private avg: $24,000
Sparks avg aid: $11,917/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$94,616
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,260
vs HS diploma in Sparks
ROI Payback Period
18 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Sparks
$-10,456
Lifetime earnings premium ($84,160) minus total education cost ($94,616)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Sparks
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Sparks for Theater & Drama
Sparks State University
public
$8,021/yr
$32,084 total
University of Sparks
public
$8,296/yr
$33,184 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sparks Community College
$5,982/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Sparks
Sparks offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Sparks Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Nevada Cities
Las Vegas, NV
$46K starting · COL 115
45 colleges
Henderson, NV
$52K starting · COL 129
12 colleges
Reno, NV
$46K starting · COL 116
21 colleges
North Las Vegas, NV
$39K starting · COL 98.5
10 colleges
Spring Valley, NV
$40K starting · COL 100.2
8 colleges
Sunrise Manor, NV
$38K starting · COL 95.8
7 colleges
Paradise, NV
$40K starting · COL 100.5
7 colleges
Enterprise, NV
$42K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Sparks
Chinese Studies
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$53K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$53K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Sparks — 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 Sparks.