Theater & Drama Degree in Wichita, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Wichita, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$52K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
16.5 yrs
in Wichita
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Wichita, KS Overview
Wichita, Kansas (pop. 397,532) has 20 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 104 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $837/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 Wichita is approximately $41,600.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$8,640/yr
Private Tuition
$43,408/yr
Room & Board
$12,817/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,474/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
46%
Theater & Drama Salary in Wichita (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wichita's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Wichita adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Wichita
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Wichita tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,640 | Private avg: $43,408
Wichita avg aid: $16,474/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$85,828
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,200
vs HS diploma in Wichita
ROI Payback Period
16.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wichita
$-2,628
Lifetime earnings premium ($83,200) minus total education cost ($85,828)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Wichita
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wichita for Theater & Drama
Wichita State University
public
$8,640/yr
$34,560 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Butler Community College
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Wichita
Wichita offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wichita Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Kansas Cities
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
Topeka, KS
$34K starting · COL 84
14 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 Wichita
Chinese Studies
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$46K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$52K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$44K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$46K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$52K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$44K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Wichita — 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 Wichita.