U.S. median for this major: $40,085.
College Scorecard field of study; 37 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 75% 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 $19,992. College Scorecard.
Western Carolina University 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 Western Carolina University'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 | $8,816 | $38,261 | more than 20 years |
| $30–48k | $10,012 | $43,452 | more than 20 years |
| $48–75k | $12,605 | $54,706 | more than 20 years |
| $75–110k | $17,060 | $74,040 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $17,992 | $78,085 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (41% 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 ($34,516) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $1,000 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 Western Carolina University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Carolina University
- Acceptance rate: 82% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 60% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,458
- Full cost breakdown · all 55 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Carolina University
- Music$44,014
- Studio Art$43,029
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$58,467
Western Carolina University Theatre questions
How much do Western Carolina University Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median $34,516 four years after graduating and $21,824 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do Western Carolina University Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of Western Carolina University is $26,000, about 75% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is Western Carolina University a good school for Theatre in North Carolina?
On pay, Theatre graduates of Western Carolina University earn $34,516 four years out, $6,719 below the median for the same major across 8 North Carolina colleges ($41,235) and $5,569 below the U.S. median ($40,085). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Carolina University rank for Theatre in North Carolina?
Of 8 North Carolina colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, Western Carolina University ranks 8th. 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 $63,700 in North Carolina 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: “Western Carolina University Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-carolina-university/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).