U.S. median for this major: $40,085.
College Scorecard field of study; 27 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 68% 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 $25,182. College Scorecard.
OU 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 OU'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 | $4,422 | $19,987 | 3.3 years |
| $30–48k | $4,560 | $20,611 | 3.4 years |
| $48–75k | $6,711 | $30,334 | 5.0 years |
| $75–110k | $11,874 | $53,670 | 8.9 years |
| $110k+ | $19,217 | $86,861 | 14.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (34% 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 ($39,442) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $6,031 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 Michigan colleges
Every Michigan 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 Michigan-Ann Arbor | $45,888 | $20,798 | $13,138 | 93% |
| 2 | Western Michigan University | $44,694 | $26,950 | $15,273 | 58% |
| 3 | Central Michigan University | $43,916 | $28,000 | $17,597 | 59% |
| 4 | Michigan State University | $42,820 | $22,250 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 5 | Oakland University | $39,442 | $26,678 | $9,120 | 58% |
| 6 | Eastern Michigan University | $36,621 | $27,492 | $15,407 | 46% |
| 7 | Wayne State University | $32,525 | $24,847 | $12,766 | 58% |
17 more Michigan 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 OU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About OU
- Acceptance rate: 88% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 58% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $58,612
- Full cost breakdown · all 74 majors · overview
Related majors at OU
- Music—
- Studio Art$44,270
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$47,432
- Dance—
- Film and Photography$43,186
OU Theatre questions
How much do OU Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of Oakland University earn a median $39,442 four years after graduating and $15,579 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do OU Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of Oakland University is $26,678, about 68% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is OU a good school for Theatre in Michigan?
On pay, Theatre graduates of Oakland University earn $39,442 four years out, $3,378 below the median for the same major across 7 Michigan colleges ($42,820) and $643 below the U.S. median ($40,085). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does OU rank for Theatre in Michigan?
Of 7 Michigan colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, Oakland University ranks 5th. The highest is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor at $45,888.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $76,290 in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI area and $90,360 nationally. Others include writers and authors and fashion designers.
Is OU 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: “Oakland University Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/oakland-university/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).