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. Also, learn how SMU ranks among other schools offering degrees in theater.
Jump to any of the following sections:
The bachelor's program at SMU was ranked #88 on College Factual's Best Schools for theater list. It is also ranked #5 in Texas.
| Ranking Type | Rank |
|---|---|
| Best Drama & Theater Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools | 83 |
| Best Drama & Theater Arts Schools | 88 |
During the 2021-2022 academic year, Southern Methodist University handed out 8 bachelor's degrees in drama & theater arts. This is a decrease of 53% over the previous year when 17 degrees were handed out.
In 2022, 4 students received their master’s degree in theater from SMU. This makes it the #98 most popular school for theater master’s degree candidates in the country.
Theater majors who earn their bachelor's degree from SMU go on to jobs where they make a median salary of $23,831 a year. This is great news for graduates of the program, since this figure is higher than the national average of $20,701 for all theater bachelor's degree recipients.
Part-time undergraduates at SMU paid an average of $2,389 per credit hour in 2022-2023. This tuition was the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates.
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $57,212 | $57,212 |
| Fees | $7,248 | $7,248 |
| Books and Supplies | $800 | $800 |
| On Campus Room and Board | $18,230 | $18,230 |
| On Campus Other Expenses | $2,600 | $2,600 |
Learn more about SMU tuition and fees.
For the most recent academic year available, 50% of theater bachelor's degrees went to men and 50% went to women.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Southern Methodist University with a bachelor's in theater.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 1 |
| Black or African American | 2 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1 |
| White | 4 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 0 |
SMU 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 SMU Online Learning page.
Of the 10 theater students who graduated with a master's degree in 2021-2022 from SMU, about 40% were men and 60% were women.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Southern Methodist University with a master's in theater.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 0 |
| Black or African American | 2 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2 |
| White | 5 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 1 |
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the theater majors at Southern Methodist University.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music | 82 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 36 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 21 |
| Dance | 14 |
| Arts & Media Management | 13 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.