U.S. median for this major: $40,085.
College Scorecard field of study; 31 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 73% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $28,816. College Scorecard.
CWU Theatre: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses CWU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $11,846 | $52,478 | no earnings gain |
| $30–48k | $13,942 | $61,763 | no earnings gain |
| $48–75k | $16,022 | $70,977 | no earnings gain |
| $75–110k | $21,682 | $96,051 | no earnings gain |
| $110k+ | $26,719 | $118,365 | no earnings gain |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (32% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Theatre graduates 4 years after graduating ($33,800) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024). Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Theatre at Washington colleges
Every Washington college we cover that reports Theatre graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Puget Sound | $46,791 | — | $38,394 | 68% |
| 2 | Pacific Lutheran University | $44,459 | $24,125 | $19,589 | 69% |
| 3 | Western Washington University | $40,616 | $20,500 | $21,193 | 65% |
| 4 | Central Washington University | $33,800 | $24,752 | $18,476 | 54% |
8 more Washington colleges offer Theatre but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Theatre graduates
Producers and Directors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Writers and Authors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Fashion Designers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +0.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at CWU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About CWU
- Acceptance rate: 91% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 54% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $61,580
- Full cost breakdown · all 113 majors · overview
Related majors at CWU
- Music$51,008
- Studio Art$40,251
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design—
- Dance—
- Arts and Entertainment Management—
- Film and Photography$45,152
CWU Theatre questions
How much do CWU Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of Central Washington University earn a median $33,800 four years after graduating and $24,674 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do CWU Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of Central Washington University is $24,752, about 73% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is CWU a good school for Theatre in Washington?
On pay, Theatre graduates of Central Washington University earn $33,800 four years out, $8,738 below the median for the same major across 4 Washington colleges ($42,538) and $6,285 below the U.S. median ($40,085). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does CWU rank for Theatre in Washington?
Of 4 Washington colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, Central Washington University ranks 4th. The highest is University of Puget Sound at $46,791.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $81,550 in Washington and $90,360 nationally. Others include writers and authors and fashion designers.
Is CWU the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Central Washington University Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/central-washington-university/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).