U.S. median for this major: $40,085.
College Scorecard field of study; 27 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 $24,188. College Scorecard.
Western Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 | $7,087 | $30,332 | more than 20 years |
| $30–48k | $6,871 | $29,408 | 20.0 years |
| $48–75k | $9,765 | $41,794 | more than 20 years |
| $75–110k | $14,049 | $60,130 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $17,653 | $75,555 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (42% 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 ($34,987) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $1,471 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 Western Kentucky University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Kentucky University
- Acceptance rate: 94% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 56% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $43,889
- Full cost breakdown · all 80 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Kentucky University
- Music$38,377
- Studio Art$45,957
- Dance—
- Film and Photography—
Western Kentucky University Theatre questions
How much do Western Kentucky University Theatre graduates earn?
Theatre graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median $34,987 four years after graduating and $22,884 one year after. The U.S. median for Theatre graduates across 251 colleges is $40,085.
How much debt do Western Kentucky University Theatre graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Theatre graduates of Western Kentucky University is $21,821, about 62% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is Western Kentucky University a good school for Theatre in Kentucky?
On pay, Theatre graduates of Western Kentucky University earn $34,987 four years out, $637 below the median for the same major across 3 Kentucky colleges ($35,624) and $5,098 below the U.S. median ($40,085). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Kentucky University rank for Theatre in Kentucky?
Of 3 Kentucky colleges reporting Theatre graduate earnings, Western Kentucky University ranks 3rd. The highest is University of Kentucky at $38,475.
What jobs do Theatre graduates get?
A common career is producers and directors, with a median wage of $48,790 in the Bowling Green, 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: “Western Kentucky University Theatre: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-kentucky-university/majors/theatre (College Scorecard and BLS data).