Theater & Drama Degree in Sunnyvale, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Sunnyvale, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$79K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$99K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
13.2 yrs
in Sunnyvale
Cost of Living
198.4
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Sunnyvale, CA Overview
Sunnyvale, California (pop. 155,805) has 6 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 198.4 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $4,500/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 Sunnyvale is approximately $79,360.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$18,170/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,053/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
56%
Theater & Drama Salary in Sunnyvale (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Sunnyvale's cost of living index of 198.4 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Sunnyvale adjustment factor: 1.98x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Sunnyvale
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Sunnyvale tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Sunnyvale avg aid: $15,053/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$130,680
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,920
vs HS diploma in Sunnyvale
ROI Payback Period
13.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Sunnyvale
$28,040
Lifetime earnings premium ($158,720) minus total education cost ($130,680)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Sunnyvale
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Sunnyvale for Theater & Drama
Sunnyvale State University
public
$15,876/yr
$63,504 total
University of Sunnyvale
public
$15,339/yr
$61,356 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sunnyvale Community College
$7,102/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale
Chinese Studies
$109K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$99K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$87K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$99K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$83K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$87K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$89K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$99K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Sunnyvale — 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 Sunnyvale.