Theater & Drama Degree in Washington, DC — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Washington, DC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$58K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$73K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
18.8 yrs
in Washington
Cost of Living
146
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Washington, DC Overview
Washington is one of District of Columbia's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 55,233. Public tuition averages $12,276/year here — near the national average for public universities. 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 Washington is approximately $58,400.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$12,276/yr
Private Tuition
$51,262/yr
Room & Board
$22,009/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,537/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
60%
Theater & Drama Salary in Washington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Washington's cost of living index of 146 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Washington adjustment factor: 1.46x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Washington
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Washington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,276 | Private avg: $51,262
Washington avg aid: $8,537/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,140
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,300
vs HS diploma in Washington
ROI Payback Period
18.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Washington
$-20,340
Lifetime earnings premium ($116,800) minus total education cost ($137,140)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Washington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Washington for Theater & Drama
Georgetown University
private
$62,052/yr
$248,208 total
George Washington University
private
$60,770/yr
$243,080 total
Howard University
private
$30,964/yr
$123,856 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
University of the District of Columbia Community College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Washington
Washington offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Washington Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Other Humanities Majors in Washington
Chinese Studies
$80K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$73K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$64K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$73K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$61K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$64K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$73K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Washington — 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 Washington.