Theater & Drama Degree in Stockton, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Stockton, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$46K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
21.5 yrs
in Stockton
Cost of Living
116
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Stockton, CA Overview
Stockton is one of California's top college towns, with 27 institutions and a student population of 20,206. Public tuition averages $11,231/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 Stockton is approximately $46,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
27
Public Tuition
$11,231/yr
Private Tuition
$52,584/yr
Room & Board
$19,958/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,901/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Theater & Drama Salary in Stockton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Stockton's cost of living index of 116 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Stockton adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Stockton
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Stockton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,231 | Private avg: $52,584
Stockton avg aid: $15,901/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$124,756
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,800
vs HS diploma in Stockton
ROI Payback Period
21.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Stockton
$-31,956
Lifetime earnings premium ($92,800) minus total education cost ($124,756)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Stockton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Stockton for Theater & Drama
University of the Pacific
private
$52,584/yr
$210,336 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
San Joaquin Delta College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Stockton
Stockton offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Stockton 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 Stockton
Chinese Studies
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$58K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$51K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$58K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$49K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$51K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$52K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$58K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Stockton — 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 Stockton.