U.S. median for this major: $40,085.
College Scorecard field of study; 20 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 49% 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 $17,454. College Scorecard.
RIC Theatre: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Rhode Island 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 RIC'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 | $6,378 | $29,594 | 2.8 years |
| $30–48k | $6,989 | $32,429 | 3.1 years |
| $48–75k | $8,701 | $40,373 | 3.9 years |
| $75–110k | $12,809 | $59,434 | 5.7 years |
| $110k+ | $15,681 | $72,760 | 7.0 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.6 years, the average time graduates took (23% 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 ($50,335) minus $39,880 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in RI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $10,455 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 Rhode Island colleges
Every Rhode Island 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 | Rhode Island College | $50,335 | $24,523 | $9,478 | 48% |
| 2 | University of Rhode Island | $33,972 | $21,500 | $21,440 | 73% |
4 more Rhode Island 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 RIC, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About RIC
- Acceptance rate: 92% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 48% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $56,318
- Full cost breakdown · all 69 majors · overview
Related majors at RIC
- Music$51,090
- Studio Art$41,883
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design—
- Dance—
- Film and Photography—
RIC Theatre questions
How much do RIC Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median $50,335 four years after graduating and $24,526 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do RIC Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of Rhode Island College is $24,523, about 49% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Where does RIC rank for Theatre in Rhode Island?
Of 2 Rhode Island colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, Rhode Island College ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $78,530 in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA area 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: “Rhode Island College Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/rhode-island-college/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).