Bachelor's · New York, New York

Is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Marymount Manhattan College worth it?

High confidence High confidence: 100+ 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: $34,283; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $43,057; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $26,000; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $162k (likely $162k – $192k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $5k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in NY; 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: −$313k (likely −$369k – −$275k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: −$224k (likely −$322k – −$134k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 53%; Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Borrowers making progress / in default, 2 years in: not reported / ≤ 10%; NSLDS AY2016-17, AY2017-18 pooled cohorts measured in 2018-19, 2019-20

Change income, residency or loans Compare Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at other schools

🎨 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward art, design & performance majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

AP 2-D Art and Design
AP Drawing
AP Art History
AP Music Theory

IB Higher Level

Visual Arts HL
Music HL or Theatre HL or Film HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at Marymount Manhattan College

Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's)$62,844
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's)$55,285
Psychology, General (Bachelor's)$55,226
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's)$51,287
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's)$48,393
Dance (Bachelor's)$38,227
International/Globalization Studies (Bachelor's)$37,090

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at other schools in New York

Manhattanville University$48,629
Binghamton University$47,945
Ithaca College$46,563
Fordham University$46,317
University at Buffalo$45,677
Hofstra University$44,388
Syracuse University$44,045
Long Island University$43,904
New York University$42,348
CUNY New York City College of Technology$41,880