by our College Data Analytics TeamTheater Arts was the 70th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 11,385 degrees in this year alone. This 176 less than the prior year, a decrease of 1.5%.
This year's Best Theater Arts Schools ranking compares 402 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of theater programs later in this article.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in theater arts is talking to others to convey information effectively. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most theater degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic theater arts program qualifications, to serve in some theater careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of theater degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in theater arts to something that takes less time like a . Theater Arts programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to theater, with approximately 40.2% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for theater workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 36.5% |
| Master’s Degree | 19.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 12.0% |
| High School Diploma | 8.8% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 6.0% |
About 63.0% of workers in careers related to theater obtain at least bachelor's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in theater arts have received.
This of course varies depending on which theater career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your theater degree? Theater Arts careers are expected to grow 11.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to theater arts.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Producers and Directors | 151,200 | 12.2% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | 137,200 | 12.0% |
| Actors | 71,200 | 11.6% |
| Sports Entertainers and Performers | 28,900 | 8.2% |
As you might expect, salaries for theater graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for theater arts graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers theater grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Producers and Directors | $89,840 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | $82,560 |
With over 1,512 different theater degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased theater school rankings to help you with this.
Theater Arts is one of 9 different types of Drama & Theater Arts programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Acting | 1,793 |
| Theater Design & Technology | 1,164 |
| Musical Theater | 995 |
| Other Dramatic/Theatre Arts & Stagecraft | 862 |
| Playwriting & Screenwriting | 683 |
Image Credit: By Donald Judge under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
