Master's · Winston Salem, North Carolina
Is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at University of North Carolina School of the Arts worth it?
Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.
The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans
Graduates typically don't earn back the cost within 20 years, compared with the no-degree baseline.
- Earnings 1 year after graduating
- $63,653
- Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Earnings 4 years after graduating
- $60,220
- Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Typical federal debt at graduation
- $65,729
- NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
- Typical borrowing (no graduate net price is published)
- $70k (likely $70k – $70k)
- AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Earnings bump, year 4
- −$291 a year vs bachelor's graduates 4 years out in NC
- 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Payback
- Not within 20 years in most scenarios
- Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
- 10-year net return
- −$248k (likely −$341k – −$135k)
- Today's dollars
- 20-year net return
- −$289k (likely −$461k – −$66k)
- Today's dollars
Change income, residency or loans Compare Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at other schools
Scorecard reports no net price for graduate programs; cost is based on what graduates typically borrowed.