Theater & Drama Degree in Tulsa, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Tulsa, OK. 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
16.1 yrs
in Tulsa
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Tulsa, OK Overview
Tulsa, Oklahoma (pop. 413,066) has 15 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,113/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 Tulsa is approximately $33,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
15
Public Tuition
$6,582/yr
Private Tuition
$38,753/yr
Room & Board
$10,330/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,592/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
64%
Theater & Drama Salary in Tulsa (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Tulsa'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.Tulsa adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Tulsa
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Tulsa tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,582 | Private avg: $38,753
Tulsa avg aid: $7,592/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$67,648
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,200
vs HS diploma in Tulsa
ROI Payback Period
16.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Tulsa
$-448
Lifetime earnings premium ($67,200) minus total education cost ($67,648)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Tulsa
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Tulsa for Theater & Drama
University of Tulsa
private
$44,726/yr
$178,904 total
Oral Roberts University
private
$32,780/yr
$131,120 total
Oklahoma State University-Tulsa
public
$6,582/yr
$26,328 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tulsa Community College
$3,558/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Tulsa
Tulsa offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Tulsa Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Oklahoma City, OK
$39K starting · COL 97
37 colleges
Norman, OK
$34K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$37K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$38K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Lawton, OK
$33K starting · COL 82.5
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$36K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$36K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$35K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Tulsa
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 Tulsa — 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 Tulsa.