Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Fayetteville State University
NC · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 50.05
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degree from Fayetteville State University earn a median salary of $41,424 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $42,356. The degree typically pays for itself in 28.1 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$27,814
Typical Career
$41,424
Top Performers
$56,406
Estimated break-even: 28.1 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$276
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,452. Most students can comfortably afford about a $276 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in North Carolina buys what costs $0.98 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Public Administration.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$42,356
Nominal: $41,424 in North Carolina (COL 97.8% of national avg) · 2.2% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $17,937 | $24,348 | $33,861 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $27,814 | $41,424 | $56,406 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $35,466 | $47,289 | $58,363 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $41,424 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NC, which has a cost-of-living index of 97.8% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $41,424 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9780)
= $42,356 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
In terms of career pathways, graduates primarily enter the Educational Services sector (26.0%), followed by Health Care & Social Assistance (24.1%), and Public Administration (13.6%). The estimated break-even point for pursuing this degree versus a high-school-only path is approximately 28.1 years. This extended timeframe suggests that while there may be potential for higher earnings in the long run, the initial financial return on investment may be lower compared to other fields, warranting careful consideration for prospective students.
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Other Degrees at Fayetteville State University
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.