Best Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Schools in California

California has 31 colleges offering Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 1,268 recent graduates. Graduates earn $22,421 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $22,844.

Schools in CA

$22,421

CA Avg. Earnings

$22,844

National Avg.

351

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in California

Public Schools (21)

$21,762

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (8)

$24,064

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $2,302 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public

$20,687

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $25,006

Graduates: 27

Acceptance: 41.6%

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$31,839

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,067

Graduates: 23

Acceptance: 11.7%

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$24,035

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $24,756

Graduates: 72

Acceptance: 55.6%

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private

$18,401

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $23,856

Graduates: 26

Acceptance: 49.9%

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$28,598

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $23,556

Graduates: 91

Acceptance: 40.3%

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$19,227

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $18,404

Graduates: 17

Acceptance: 93.6%

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$25,194

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,049

Graduates: 61

Acceptance: 96.2%

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$21,508

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $24,656

Graduates: 39

Acceptance: 27.8%

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$19,683

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $20,412

Graduates: 68

Acceptance: 93.2%

#10

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$23,803

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,021

Graduates: 81

Acceptance: 86.7%

#11

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $23,178

Graduates: 45

Acceptance: 34.4%

#12

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$25,967

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $19,321

Graduates: 32

Acceptance: 24.5%

#13

California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, CA · Private

$22,420

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $24,555

Graduates: 50

Acceptance: 25.9%

#14

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$19,455

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $22,367

Graduates: 72

Acceptance: 25.6%

#15

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA · Private

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$22,192

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $24,981

Graduates: 162

Acceptance: 10.0%

#17

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$18,315

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $22,079

Graduates: 29

Acceptance: 98.3%

#18

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$26,187

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $25,076

Graduates: 63

Acceptance: 8.7%

#19

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$19,929

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $20,025

Graduates: 96

Acceptance: 47.1%

#20

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$23,649

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 29.8%

#21

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA ·

$21,781

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $18,335

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: N/A

#22

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$14,627

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $23,044

Graduates: 36

Acceptance: 91.9%

#23

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $19,665

Graduates: 20

Acceptance: 96.4%

#24

New York Film Academy

Burbank, CA ·

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $19,744

Graduates: 76

Acceptance: N/A

#25

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$21,166

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $20,333

Graduates: 26

Acceptance: 62.5%

#27

Vanguard University of Southern California

Costa Mesa, CA · Private

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, CA · Private

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$11,434

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $22,010

Graduates: 25

Acceptance: 73.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in California?

University of California-Davis ranks #1 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in California with median graduate earnings of $20,687 within two years of graduation. There are 31 schools offering Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in the state.

How much do Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates earn in California?

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates in California earn an average of $22,421 within two years of graduation. This is 2% below the national average of $22,844 for this major.

What is the hardest Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft school to get into in California?

University of California-Los Angeles is the most selective Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program in California with an acceptance rate of 8.7%. The average acceptance rate across Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs in the state is 57.4%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in California?

In California, private Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft programs produce average earnings of $24,064 vs $21,762 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 21 public and 8 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Computer Science $72,889 Computer Engineering $72,447 Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $71,074 Computer and Information Sciences, General $68,388

All colleges in California →

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft in Other States

New York Ohio Pennsylvania Texas Illinois Florida Michigan Wisconsin New Jersey Georgia North Carolina Missouri View All →

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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.