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. We've also included details on how USC ranks compared to other colleges offering a major in theater.
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Ranked at #3 in College Factual's most recent rankings, USC is in the top 1% of the country for theater students pursuing a bachelor's degree. It is also ranked #1 in California.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, University of Southern California handed out 135 bachelor's degrees in drama & theater arts. This is a decrease of 7% over the previous year when 145 degrees were handed out.
In 2022, 30 students received their master’s degree in theater from USC. This makes it the #9 most popular school for theater master’s degree candidates in the country.
The median salary of theater students who receive their bachelor's degree at USC is $21,473. This is higher than $20,701, which is the national median for all theater bachelor's degree recipients.
While getting their bachelor's degree at USC, theater students borrow a median amount of $56,350 in student loans. This is higher than the the typical median of $50,400 for all theater majors across the country.
The typical student loan payment of a bachelor's degree student from the theater program at USC is $423 per month.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, part-time undergraduate students at USC paid an average of $2,244 per credit hour. No discount was available for in-state students. Information about average full-time undergraduate tuition and fees is shown in the table below.
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $66,640 | $66,640 |
| Fees | $1,597 | $1,597 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| On Campus Room and Board | $19,198 | $19,198 |
| On Campus Other Expenses | $1,818 | $1,818 |
Learn more about USC tuition and fees.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, 135 theater majors earned their bachelor's degree from USC. Of these graduates, 35% were men and 65% were women.
The majority of bachelor's degree recipients in this major at USC are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 55% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Southern California with a bachelor's in theater.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 9 |
| Black or African American | 6 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 28 |
| White | 74 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 7 |
| Other Races | 11 |
Online degrees for the USC theater bachelor’s degree program are not available at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the USC Online Learning page.
Theater majors graduating with a master's degree from USC make a median salary of $21,764 a year. This is less than what their typical peers from other schools make. Their median salary is $27,533.
Of the 40 students who earned a master's degree in Drama & Theater Arts from USC in 2021-2022, 57% were men and 43% were women.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from University of Southern California with a master's in theater.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 3 |
| Black or African American | 6 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4 |
| White | 16 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 8 |
| Other Races | 3 |
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the theater majors at University of Southern California.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 317 |
| Music | 228 |
| Arts & Media Management | 114 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 90 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 84 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.