Theater & Drama Degree in Syracuse, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Syracuse, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$69K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
20 yrs
in Syracuse
Cost of Living
137
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Syracuse, NY Overview
Syracuse, New York (pop. 148,620) has 10 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 137 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,093/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 Syracuse is approximately $54,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$14,304/yr
Private Tuition
$57,750/yr
Room & Board
$19,896/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,141/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
62%
Theater & Drama Salary in Syracuse (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Syracuse's cost of living index of 137 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Syracuse adjustment factor: 1.37x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Syracuse
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Syracuse tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,304 | Private avg: $57,750
Syracuse avg aid: $16,141/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$136,800
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$6,850
vs HS diploma in Syracuse
ROI Payback Period
20 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Syracuse
$-27,200
Lifetime earnings premium ($109,600) minus total education cost ($136,800)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Syracuse
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Syracuse for Theater & Drama
Syracuse University
private
$57,750/yr
$231,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Onondaga Community College
$5,504/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Syracuse
Syracuse offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Syracuse Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$66K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
New York, NY
$75K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$58K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$49K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$57K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$61K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$58K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Rochester, NY
$56K starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Syracuse
Chinese Studies
$75K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$69K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$60K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$69K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$58K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$60K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classical Studies
$62K starting · 6 yr ROI
Classics
$69K starting · 8 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Syracuse — 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 Syracuse.