Theater & Drama Degree in Worcester, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Theater & Drama degree analysis for Worcester, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
25.1 yrs
in Worcester
Cost of Living
117
index (100 = avg)
Theater & Drama in Worcester, MA Overview
Worcester, Massachusetts (pop. 206,518) has 11 colleges offering Theater & Drama programs. The local cost of living index of 117 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,228/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 Worcester is approximately $46,800.
Category
Humanities
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$16,670/yr
Private Tuition
$56,344/yr
Room & Board
$20,077/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,422/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Theater & Drama Salary in Worcester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Worcester's cost of living index of 117 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Theater & Drama salary: $40,000 starting, $50,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Worcester adjustment factor: 1.17x based on the local cost of living index.
Theater & Drama ROI Calculator for Worcester
Estimate your return on investment for a Theater & Drama degree using local Worcester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,670 | Private avg: $56,344
Worcester avg aid: $15,422/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$146,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$5,850
vs HS diploma in Worcester
ROI Payback Period
25.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Worcester
$-53,388
Lifetime earnings premium ($93,600) minus total education cost ($146,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Theater & Drama in Worcester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Worcester for Theater & Drama
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
private
$56,818/yr
$227,272 total
College of the Holy Cross
private
$55,870/yr
$223,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Quinsigamond Community College
$5,760/yr
Top Employers for Theater & Drama in Worcester
Worcester offers opportunities in Publishing, Non-profits, Education for Theater & Drama graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Worcester Hiring Sectors for Humanities
Publishing
Non-profits
Education
Media companies
Government
Common Theater & Drama Job Titles
Theater & Drama in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$55K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Springfield, MA
$53K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$53K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$45K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$43K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$51K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$41K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$47K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Humanities Majors in Worcester
Chinese Studies
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Linguistics
$59K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Philosophy
$51K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Foreign Languages & Literatures
$59K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
English
$49K starting · 7 yr ROI
History
$51K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Classics
$59K starting · 8 yr ROI
Africana Studies
$49K starting · 5 yr ROI
Theater & Drama Degree in Worcester — 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 Worcester.