Theater & Drama Degree in Topeka, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Topeka, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$34K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$42K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.9 yrs
in Topeka
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Topeka, KS Overview
Topeka, Kansas (pop. 126,587) has 14 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,052/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 Topeka is approximately $33,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$8,640/yr
Private Tuition
$44,161/yr
Room & Board
$11,239/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,855/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
75%
Theater & Drama Salary in Topeka (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Topeka's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Topeka adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Topeka
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Topeka tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,640 | Private avg: $44,161
Topeka avg aid: $13,855/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,516
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,200
vs HS diploma in Topeka
ROI Payback Period
18.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Topeka
$-12,316
Lifetime earnings premium ($67,200) minus total education cost ($79,516)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Topeka
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Topeka for Theater & Drama
Washburn University
public
$8,640/yr
$34,560 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Washburn Institute of Technology
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Topeka
Topeka offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Topeka Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$42K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$41K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$33K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Olathe, KS
$39K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$43K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$35K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$38K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$38K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Topeka
Chinese Studies
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$42K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$37K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$42K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$35K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$37K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$42K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$35K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Topeka — 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 Topeka.