Theater & Drama Degree in Vancouver, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Vancouver, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$54K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
19.8 yrs
in Vancouver
Cost of Living
108.5
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Vancouver, WA Overview
Vancouver, Washington (pop. 190,915) has 7 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 108.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,260/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 Vancouver is approximately $43,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,054/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,206/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
61%
Theater & Drama Salary in Vancouver (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Vancouver's cost of living index of 108.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Vancouver adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Vancouver
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Vancouver tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Vancouver avg aid: $15,206/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$107,416
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,425
vs HS diploma in Vancouver
ROI Payback Period
19.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Vancouver
$-20,616
Lifetime earnings premium ($86,800) minus total education cost ($107,416)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Vancouver
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Vancouver for Theater & Drama
Vancouver State University
public
$12,455/yr
$49,820 total
University of Vancouver
public
$11,321/yr
$45,284 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Vancouver Community College
$6,084/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Vancouver
Vancouver offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Vancouver Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$48K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$48K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$45K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$71K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$46K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$47K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$49K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$49K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Vancouver
Chinese Studies
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$48K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$54K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$46K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$48K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$54K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$46K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Vancouver — 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 Vancouver.