U.S. median for this major: $40,085.
College Scorecard field of study; 17 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 $23,274. College Scorecard.
NMSU Theatre: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 New Mexico colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 NMSU'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 | $6,648 | $29,650 | no earnings gain |
| $30–48k | $7,424 | $33,111 | no earnings gain |
| $48–75k | $9,861 | $43,980 | no earnings gain |
| $75–110k | $13,146 | $58,631 | no earnings gain |
| $110k+ | $14,049 | $62,659 | no earnings gain |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 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 ($30,355) minus $30,723 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NM (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 New Mexico colleges
Every New Mexico 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 New Mexico | $40,085 | $23,905 | $15,489 | 55% |
| 2 | New Mexico State University | $30,355 | $17,009 | $8,889 | 55% |
2 more New Mexico 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 NMSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NMSU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 55% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $39,067
- Full cost breakdown · all 79 majors · overview
Related majors at NMSU
- Music—
- Studio Art—
- Dance—
- Film and Photography$37,880
NMSU Theatre questions
How much do NMSU Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of New Mexico State University earn a median $30,355 four years after graduating and $17,980 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do NMSU Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of New Mexico State University is $17,009, about 56% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Where does NMSU rank for Theatre in New Mexico?
Of 2 New Mexico colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, New Mexico State University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of New Mexico at $40,085.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of — in New Mexico 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: “New Mexico State University Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).