by our College Data Analytics TeamWe've pulled together some essential information you should know about the program, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, average starting salaries, and more. In addition, we cover how Northwestern ranks in comparison to other schools with theater programs.
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Ranked at #2 in College Factual's most recent rankings, Northwestern is in the top 1% of the country for theater students pursuing a bachelor's degree. It is also ranked #1 in Illinois.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, Northwestern University handed out 90 bachelor's degrees in drama & theater arts. This is a decrease of 8% over the previous year when 98 degrees were handed out.
In 2022, 22 students received their master’s degree in theater from Northwestern. This makes it the #17 most popular school for theater master’s degree candidates in the country.
In addition, 4 students received their doctoral degrees in theater in 2022, making the school the #2 most popular school in the United States for this category of students.
Theater majors who earn their bachelor's degree from Northwestern go on to jobs where they make a median salary of $19,245 a year. Unfortunately, this is lower than the national average of $20,701 for all theater students.
The typical student loan payment of a bachelor's degree student from the theater program at Northwestern is $1,062 per month.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, part-time undergraduate students at Northwestern paid an average of $7,690 per credit hour. No discount was available for in-state students. The average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates are shown in the table below.
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $64,887 | $64,887 |
| Fees | $1,110 | $1,110 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,686 | $1,686 |
| On Campus Room and Board | $20,334 | $20,334 |
| On Campus Other Expenses | $3,273 | $3,273 |
Learn more about Northwestern tuition and fees.
Of the 90 students who earned a bachelor's degree in Drama & Theater Arts from Northwestern in 2021-2022, 38% were men and 62% were women.
The majority of bachelor's degree recipients in this major at Northwestern are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 64% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor's in theater.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 7 |
| Black or African American | 5 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7 |
| White | 58 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 4 |
| Other Races | 9 |
Northwestern does not offer an online option for its theater bachelor’s degree program at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the Northwestern Online Learning page.
Graduates of the master's theater program at Northwestern make a median salary of $25,804. This is less than what their typical peers from other schools make. Their median salary is $27,533.
Of the 21 students who graduated with a Master’s in theater from Northwestern in 2022, 43% were men and 57% were women.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Northwestern University with a master's in theater.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 2 |
| Black or African American | 2 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1 |
| White | 8 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 6 |
| Other Races | 2 |
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the theater majors at Northwestern University.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music | 170 |
| Arts & Media Management | 87 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 24 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 14 |
| Dance | 5 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.