U.S. median for this major: $40,085.
College Scorecard field of study; 28 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 77% 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 $23,995. College Scorecard.
Minnesota State University-Mankato 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 Minnesota State University-Mankato'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 | $12,339 | $55,279 | no earnings gain |
| $30–48k | $12,750 | $57,120 | no earnings gain |
| $48–75k | $15,137 | $67,814 | no earnings gain |
| $75–110k | $18,921 | $84,766 | no earnings gain |
| $110k+ | $22,798 | $102,135 | no earnings gain |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (33% 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 ($32,199) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MN (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 Minnesota colleges
Every Minnesota 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 | St Olaf College | $45,023 | $21,000 | $23,874 | 84% |
| 2 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | $43,055 | $23,250 | $16,778 | 85% |
| 3 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | $42,438 | $27,000 | $18,743 | 65% |
| 4 | Minnesota State University-Mankato | $32,199 | $24,853 | $19,139 | 54% |
23 more Minnesota 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 Minnesota State University-Mankato, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Acceptance rate: 88% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 54% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $56,922
- Full cost breakdown · all 80 majors · overview
Related majors at Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Music—
- Studio Art$47,822
- Dance$37,959
- Arts and Entertainment Management—
- Film and Photography—
Minnesota State University-Mankato Theatre questions
How much do Minnesota State University-Mankato Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of Minnesota State University-Mankato earn a median $32,199 four years after graduating and $24,671 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do Minnesota State University-Mankato Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of Minnesota State University-Mankato is $24,853, about 77% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is Minnesota State University-Mankato a good school for Theatre in Minnesota?
On pay, Theatre graduates of Minnesota State University-Mankato earn $32,199 four years out, $10,547 below the median for the same major across 4 Minnesota colleges ($42,746) and $7,886 below the U.S. median ($40,085). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Minnesota State University-Mankato rank for Theatre in Minnesota?
Of 4 Minnesota colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, Minnesota State University-Mankato ranks 4th. The highest is St Olaf College at $45,023.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $76,360 in Minnesota and $90,360 nationally. Others include writers and authors and fashion designers.
Is Minnesota State University-Mankato 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: “Minnesota State University-Mankato Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/minnesota-state-university-mankato/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).