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 57% 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 $29,933. College Scorecard.
NAU 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 NAU'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 | $9,709 | $41,069 | more than 20 years |
| $30–48k | $10,398 | $43,984 | more than 20 years |
| $48–75k | $13,330 | $56,386 | more than 20 years |
| $75–110k | $18,050 | $76,352 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $20,686 | $87,502 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.2 years, the average time graduates took (45% 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 ($38,380) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in AZ (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $1,719 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 Arizona colleges
Every Arizona 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 Arizona | $44,471 | $23,725 | $16,674 | 68% |
| 2 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | $41,745 | $19,606 | $14,967 | 68% |
| 3 | Northern Arizona University | $38,380 | $21,966 | $14,158 | 61% |
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 NAU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NAU
- Acceptance rate: 90% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 61% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $54,384
- Full cost breakdown · all 82 majors · overview
Related majors at NAU
- Music$43,792
- Studio Art$34,073
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$48,764
- Film and Photography$48,800
NAU Theatre questions
How much do NAU Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median $38,380 four years after graduating and $23,043 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do NAU Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of Northern Arizona University is $21,966, about 57% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is NAU a good school for Theatre in Arizona?
On pay, Theatre graduates of Northern Arizona University earn $38,380 four years out, $3,365 below the median for the same major across 3 Arizona colleges ($41,745) and $1,705 below the U.S. median ($40,085). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NAU rank for Theatre in Arizona?
Of 3 Arizona colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, Northern Arizona University ranks 3rd. The highest is University of Arizona at $44,471.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $67,320 in Arizona and $90,360 nationally. Others include writers and authors and fashion designers.
Is NAU 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: “Northern Arizona University Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northern-arizona-university/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).