U.S. median for this major: $40,085.
College Scorecard field of study; 38 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 56% 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 $34,705. College Scorecard.
LSU 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 LSU'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 | $13,056 | $56,924 | 9.8 years |
| $30–48k | $15,696 | $68,435 | 11.7 years |
| $48–75k | $20,223 | $88,172 | 15.1 years |
| $75–110k | $23,878 | $104,108 | 17.9 years |
| $110k+ | $26,489 | $115,492 | 19.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (46% 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 ($38,317) minus $32,488 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in LA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $5,829 a year. 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 Louisiana colleges
Every Louisiana 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 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | $38,317 | $21,500 | $19,151 | 69% |
| 2 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | $36,229 | $22,250 | $13,606 | 43% |
| 3 | University of New Orleans | $28,807 | $21,987 | $12,384 | 38% |
6 more Louisiana 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 LSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About LSU
- Acceptance rate: 73% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 69% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $61,251
- Full cost breakdown · all 83 majors · overview
Related majors at LSU
- Music$47,521
- Studio Art$43,364
- Film and Photography—
LSU Theatre questions
How much do LSU Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College earn a median $38,317 four years after graduating and $20,290 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do LSU Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is $21,500, about 56% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is LSU a good school for Theatre in Louisiana?
On pay, Theatre graduates of Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College earn $38,317 four years out, $2,088 above the median for the same major across 3 Louisiana colleges ($36,229) and $1,768 below the U.S. median ($40,085). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does LSU rank for Theatre in Louisiana?
Of 3 Louisiana colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $64,120 in the Baton Rouge, LA area and $90,360 nationally. Others include writers and authors and fashion designers.
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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: “Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/louisiana-state-university-and-agricultural-and-mechanical-college/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).