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 38% 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 $26,055. College Scorecard.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill'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 | $2,004 | $8,176 | 1.0 years |
| $30–48k | $3,918 | $15,985 | 2.0 years |
| $48–75k | $8,538 | $34,835 | 4.4 years |
| $75–110k | $16,415 | $66,973 | 8.5 years |
| $110k+ | $24,396 | $99,536 | 12.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (86% 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 ($41,362) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $7,846 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 North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina 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 North Carolina School of the Arts | $48,664 | $24,592 | $14,906 | 78% |
| 2 | Appalachian State University | $44,986 | $24,755 | $16,836 | 75% |
| 3 | East Carolina University | $41,394 | $27,000 | $15,739 | 63% |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $41,362 | $15,613 | $11,655 | 91% |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | $41,108 | $25,914 | $10,965 | 56% |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $39,725 | $26,000 | $15,435 | 69% |
| 7 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | $35,956 | $25,000 | $20,109 | 71% |
| 8 | Western Carolina University | $34,516 | $26,000 | $13,315 | 60% |
26 more North Carolina 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Acceptance rate: 15% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 91% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $72,200
- Full cost breakdown · all 51 majors · overview
Related majors at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Music$58,127
- Studio Art$41,722
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Theatre questions
How much do University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median $41,362 four years after graduating and $26,457 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $15,613, about 38% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill a good school for Theatre in North Carolina?
On pay, Theatre graduates of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn $41,362 four years out, $127 above the median for the same major across 8 North Carolina colleges ($41,235) and $1,277 above the U.S. median ($40,085). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill rank for Theatre in North Carolina?
Of 8 North Carolina colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranks 4th. The highest is University of North Carolina School of the Arts at $48,664.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $69,820 in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).