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# Best Drama and Theatre Arts Programs in California (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Top Art & Design Colleges in California by Earnings](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-california/)

This page ranks 28 Drama and Theatre Arts programs in California by median earnings of Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) leads with $56,823, followed by [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) at $55,555, a gap of $1,268.

Across the listed schools, median earnings range from $56,823 to $11,434, with a median of $40,602. For 5 of the 28 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 71% of the list, with 20 public and 8 private nonprofit schools represented. California State University-Los Angeles posts the lowest average net price at $3,967.

University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

28 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of California-Davis · Davis, CA | $56,823 | $14,741 | $9,211 | 41.8% |
|  | [University of California-Davis](/school/university-of-california-davis/majors/) reports [median earnings of $56,823](/school/university-of-california-davis/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $55,555 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
|  | An [admission rate of 11%](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/admissions/) coincides with median earnings of $55,555 for Drama and Theatre Arts graduates of [University of California-Berkeley](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) four years after completing. |
| 3 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $51,611 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Orange, [Chapman University](/school/chapman-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $51,611](/school/chapman-university/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | Pepperdine University · Malibu, CA | $50,594 | $58,098 | $50,560 | 62.9% |
|  | [Pepperdine University](/school/pepperdine-university/majors/) ranks 4th on this list, with a [median of $19,500](/school/pepperdine-university/outcomes/) in federal debt among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed. |
| 5 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $49,135 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
|  | [Loyola Marymount University](/school/loyola-marymount-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $32,268](/school/loyola-marymount-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and a cohort of 134 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 6 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $47,676 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
|  | [California State University-Sacramento](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/majors/) [ranks 10th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $47,676 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 7 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $44,848 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
|  | [San Francisco State University](/school/san-francisco-state-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $12,278](/school/san-francisco-state-university/cost/) and its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates earn a median of $44,848 four years after completing. |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA | $44,106 | $16,109 | $9,231 | 33.0% |
|  | [University of California-Santa Barbara](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/majors/) [admits 33% of applicants](/school/university-of-california-santa-barbara/admissions/) and its graduates in the earnings cohort number 31. |
| 9 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $43,240 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) reports an [average net price of $4,905](/school/california-state-university-northridge/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $43,240 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 10 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $42,455 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
|  | A [median of $15,000](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/outcomes/) in federal debt among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed is reported by [California State University-Fullerton](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/majors/), which ranks 6th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 11 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $41,812 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
|  | [San Diego State University](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $41,812](/school/san-diego-state-university/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 36%. |
| 12 | University of California-San Diego · La Jolla, CA | $41,389 | $12,470 | $7,525 | 26.7% |
|  | [University of California-San Diego](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/majors/) [ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-california-san-diego/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates earn a median of $41,389 four years after completing. |
| 13 | California Institute of the Arts · Valencia, CA | $41,192 | $46,080 | $26,686 | 32.3% |
|  | California Institute of the Arts ranks 13th on this list, with median earnings of $41,192 for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 14 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $40,773 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
|  | An [average net price of $14,251](/school/university-of-california-irvine/cost/) coincides with [University of California-Irvine](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/)'s 14th position on this page, alongside $40,773 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 15 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $40,432 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
|  | [California Baptist University](/school/california-baptist-university/majors/) reports a [median federal debt of $26,063](/school/california-baptist-university/cost/) across all of the school's borrowers who completed, alongside $40,432 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 16 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $40,415 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | Admitting 10% of applicants, [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) ranks 16th on this page and reports [$40,415 in median earnings](/school/university-of-southern-california/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 17 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $40,118 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
|  | [California State University-San Bernardino](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/majors/) posts an [average net price of $4,564](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/cost/) and ranks 17th on this list, with $40,118 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 18 | University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $39,023 | $12,548 | $5,579 | 9.0% |
|  | [University of California-Los Angeles](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/majors/) reports a [median federal debt of $16,825](/school/university-of-california-los-angeles/cost/) among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed, and ranks 18th on this page with $39,023 in median earnings four years after completing. |
| 19 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $38,270 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
|  | [California State University-Long Beach](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/) ranks 19th on this list, with [$38,270 in median earnings](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $10,440. |
| 20 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $36,697 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 31%](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/admissions/), [California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) ranks 20th on this page and posts $36,697 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 21 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $35,097 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
|  | [California State University-Los Angeles](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/majors/) posts an [average net price of $3,967](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/cost/) and ranks 21st on this list, reporting $35,097 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 22 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $34,320 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
|  | Median federal debt of $12,413 among Drama and Theatre Arts completers who borrowed is recorded at [California State University-Fresno](/school/california-state-university-fresno/majors/), which ranks 22nd on this page with [$34,320 in median earnings](/school/california-state-university-fresno/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
| 23 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $31,839 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
|  | [Sonoma State University](/school/sonoma-state-university/majors/) [admits 93% of applicants](/school/sonoma-state-university/admissions/) and ranks 23rd on this list, with $31,839 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 24 | University of California-Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz, CA | $30,524 | $17,890 | $8,717 | 65.8% |
|  | An [average net price of $17,890](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/cost/) accompanies [University of California-Santa Cruz](/school/university-of-california-santa-cruz/majors/)'s 24th place on this page, alongside $30,524 in median earnings for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing. |
| 25 | Vanguard University of Southern California · Costa Mesa, CA | $28,019 | $21,241 | $17,225 | 62.4% |
|  | [Vanguard University of Southern California](/school/vanguard-university-of-southern-california/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Costa Mesa, reports [median earnings of $28,019](/school/vanguard-university-of-southern-california/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 62%. |
| 26 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $23,649 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
|  | [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/) ranks 26th on this list and carries an [average net price of $50,062,](/school/santa-clara-university/cost/) with an 8-graduate earnings cohort. |
| 27 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $17,470 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
|  | Admitting 98% of applicants, [California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/majors/) posts [median earnings of $17,470](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/outcomes/) for its Drama and Theatre Arts graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $8,483 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 28 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $11,434 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
|  | [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/) sits 28th on this page and holds an [Azimuth composite rank of 15th](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 31 graduates in the earnings cohort. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Acting graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing the program. For 5 of the 28 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost of attendance, or the characteristics of the students a program admits. The range and median below cover the 28 schools with a published figure. The spread from top to bottom is $45,389, with University of California-Davis reporting $56,823 and the lowest-listed program at $11,434.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Top Art & Design Colleges in California by Earnings](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-california/)
-   Art & Design Colleges in California for Social Mobility