U.S. median for this major: $40,085.
College Scorecard field of study; 37 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 61% 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 $25,431. College Scorecard.
NSU 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 NSU'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 | $11,693 | $50,514 | 13.5 years |
| $30–48k | $12,261 | $52,968 | 14.2 years |
| $48–75k | $12,549 | $54,212 | 14.5 years |
| $75–110k | $17,777 | $76,797 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $19,077 | $82,413 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 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 ($36,229) minus $32,488 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in LA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $3,741 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 NSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NSU
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 43% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $47,021
- Full cost breakdown · all 31 majors · overview
Related majors at NSU
- Music$39,223
- Studio Art—
- Dance—
NSU Theatre questions
How much do NSU Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn a median $36,229 four years after graduating and $16,973 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do NSU Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of Northwestern State University of Louisiana is $22,250, about 61% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is NSU a good school for Theatre in Louisiana?
On pay, Theatre graduates of Northwestern State University of Louisiana earn $36,229 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Louisiana colleges ($36,229) and $3,856 below the U.S. median ($40,085). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NSU rank for Theatre in Louisiana?
Of 3 Louisiana colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, Northwestern State University of Louisiana ranks 2nd. The highest is Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College at $38,317.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $62,920 in Louisiana and $90,360 nationally. Others include writers and authors and fashion designers.
Is NSU 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: “Northwestern State University of Louisiana Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northwestern-state-university-of-louisiana/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).