U.S. median for this major: $40,085.
College Scorecard field of study; 21 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 62% 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 $22,278. College Scorecard.
University of Northern Iowa 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 Northern Iowa'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 | $10,863 | $47,797 | 15.1 years |
| $30–48k | $11,751 | $51,704 | 16.4 years |
| $48–75k | $14,099 | $62,036 | 19.7 years |
| $75–110k | $17,740 | $78,056 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $18,706 | $82,306 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (45% 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 ($39,816) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $3,155 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 Iowa colleges
Every Iowa 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 | Drake University | $54,950 | — | $29,127 | 74% |
| 2 | University of Northern Iowa | $39,816 | $24,875 | $15,901 | 68% |
| 3 | University of Iowa | $30,231 | $26,622 | $22,531 | 75% |
17 more Iowa 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 Northern Iowa, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Northern Iowa
- Acceptance rate: 93% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 68% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $55,177
- Full cost breakdown · all 69 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Northern Iowa
- Music—
- Studio Art$40,288
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$47,736
University of Northern Iowa Theatre questions
How much do University of Northern Iowa Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of University of Northern Iowa earn a median $39,816 four years after graduating and $22,289 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do University of Northern Iowa Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of University of Northern Iowa is $24,875, about 62% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is University of Northern Iowa a good school for Theatre in Iowa?
On pay, Theatre graduates of University of Northern Iowa earn $39,816 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 Iowa colleges ($39,816) and $269 below the U.S. median ($40,085). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Northern Iowa rank for Theatre in Iowa?
Of 3 Iowa colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, University of Northern Iowa ranks 2nd. The highest is Drake University at $54,950.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $51,500 in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA area and $90,360 nationally. Others include writers and authors and fashion designers.
Is University of Northern Iowa the right fit for your family?
Get a free report comparing University of Northern Iowa with up to 4 other schools on what you'd actually pay, what graduates in your major earn, and how each fits your priorities.
Build my free reportCheck my chances of getting inWe never share your contact information.
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 Northern Iowa Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-northern-iowa/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).