by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, theater design and technology was the 433rd most popular major nationwide with 1,164 degrees awarded. This represents a 8.3% reduction in theater design degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 1,261.
Our 2023 Best Theater Design & Technology Schools ranking analyzes 70 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for theater design and technology students. Explore this or one of our many other custom theater design rankings further below.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in theater design and technology is talking to others to convey information effectively. Required skills include 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.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic theater design and technology program qualifications, to serve in some theater design careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
There are various different levels of theater design degrees. You can spend many years getting as high as a in theater design and technology to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a theater design degree varies depending on the program.
| 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 master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to theater design, with approximately 38.4% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for theater design workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 43.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 23.2% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 22.2% |
| First Professional Degree | 4.2% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.3% |
63.7% of theater design workers have at least a master's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in theater design and technology careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the theater design career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your theater design degree? Theater Design & Technology careers are expected to grow 11.8% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to theater design and technology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | 137,200 | 12.0% |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | 16,100 | 10.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for theater design graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for theater design and technology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers theater design grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | $82,560 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $61,020 |
With over 276 different theater design 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 design school rankings to help you with this.
One of 9 majors within the Drama & Theater Arts area of study, Theater Design & Technology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Theater Arts | 11,385 |
| Acting | 1,793 |
| 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.
