U.S. median for this major: $40,085.
College Scorecard field of study; 29 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 70% 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 $34,391. College Scorecard.
University of Kentucky 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 University of Kentucky'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 | $12,182 | $51,895 | 10.5 years |
| $30–48k | $12,119 | $51,627 | 10.4 years |
| $48–75k | $16,313 | $69,493 | 14.0 years |
| $75–110k | $21,192 | $90,278 | 18.2 years |
| $110k+ | $26,781 | $114,087 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (54% 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 ($38,475) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $4,959 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 Kentucky colleges
Every Kentucky 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 Kentucky | $38,475 | $27,000 | $18,851 | 71% |
| 2 | Northern Kentucky University | $35,624 | $21,175 | $8,191 | 52% |
| 3 | Western Kentucky University | $34,987 | $21,821 | $10,990 | 56% |
14 more Kentucky 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 University of Kentucky, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Kentucky
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 71% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $59,025
- Full cost breakdown · all 93 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Kentucky
- Music$39,746
- Studio Art$41,406
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$62,966
- Dance—
- Arts and Entertainment Management$49,167
University of Kentucky Theatre questions
How much do University of Kentucky Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of University of Kentucky earn a median $38,475 four years after graduating and $20,937 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do University of Kentucky Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of University of Kentucky is $27,000, about 70% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is University of Kentucky a good school for Theatre in Kentucky?
On pay, Theatre graduates of University of Kentucky earn $38,475 four years out, $2,851 above the median for the same major across 3 Kentucky colleges ($35,624) and $1,610 below the U.S. median ($40,085). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Kentucky rank for Theatre in Kentucky?
Of 3 Kentucky colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, University of Kentucky ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $55,460 in the Lexington-Fayette, KY 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: “University of Kentucky Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-kentucky/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).