Theater & Drama Degree in Virginia Beach, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Virginia Beach, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$35K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$44K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.8 yrs
in Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
88
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Virginia Beach, VA Overview
Virginia Beach, Virginia (pop. 459,470) has 13 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 88 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $975/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 Virginia Beach is approximately $35,200.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$11,210/yr
Private Tuition
$28,926/yr
Room & Board
$9,485/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,610/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Theater & Drama Salary in Virginia Beach (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Virginia Beach's cost of living index of 88 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Virginia Beach adjustment factor: 0.88x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Virginia Beach
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Virginia Beach tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,210 | Private avg: $28,926
Virginia Beach avg aid: $12,610/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,780
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$4,400
vs HS diploma in Virginia Beach
ROI Payback Period
18.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Virginia Beach
$-12,380
Lifetime earnings premium ($70,400) minus total education cost ($82,780)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Virginia Beach
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Virginia Beach for Theater & Drama
Regent University
private
$19,100/yr
$76,400 total
Virginia Wesleyan University
private
$38,752/yr
$155,008 total
Old Dominion University
public
$11,210/yr
$44,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Virginia Beach Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Virginia Cities
Chesapeake, VA
$36K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$57K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$37K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$40K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$37K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$41K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$39K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$35K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Virginia Beach
Chinese Studies
$48K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$44K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$39K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$44K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$37K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$39K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$44K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$37K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Virginia Beach — 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 Virginia Beach.