Musical Theatre: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for students seeking a dynamic, performance-driven education, this program prepares individuals to excel in the multifaceted world of musical theatre. It emphasizes the seamless fusion of dramatic expression, vocal artistry, and choreographic skill within live stage productions.
- Acting: Training in character development, scene study, improvisation, and stage presence to deliver compelling and authentic performances.
- Dance: Instruction in various dance styles including ballet, jazz, tap, and contemporary, with an emphasis on technique, rhythm, and ensemble coordination.
- Voice and Vocal Technique: Study of breath control, vocal health, diction, and stylistic interpretation to project power and clarity in musical performance.
- Technical Theater: Exploration of lighting, sound, set design, costumes, and stage management to support and enhance live productions.
- Musical Genres: In-depth analysis of historical and contemporary styles such as operetta, Broadway musicals, jazz musicals, and modern pop-influenced works.
- Piano for Musicals: Development of foundational keyboard skills tailored to accompaniment, score reading, and rehearsal support in musical theatre settings.
- History of Musical Theatre: Comprehensive study of the evolution of the genre from early 20th-century revues to modern award-winning productions, including cultural and social context.
Musical Theatre Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Musical Theatre Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Musical Theatre degrees, including Producers and Directors, Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary and Music Directors and Composers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 345,130 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Producers and Directors 27-2012 | $83,480 | $43,060 - $198,530 | 145,270 | $40.13 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
| Music Directors and Composers 27-2041 | $63,670 | $34,990 - $157,010 | 12,330 | $30.61 |
| Choreographers 27-2032 | $55,600 | $33,080 - $94,090 | 3,430 | $26.73 |
| Actors 27-2011 | N/A | N/A | 38,800 | $23.33 |
| Dancers 27-2031 | N/A | N/A | 9,060 | $23.97 |
| Musicians and Singers 27-2042 | N/A | N/A | 38,350 | $42.45 |
Musical Theatre Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,383 in South Dakota to $103,480 in New Jersey—a 114% difference. The highest-paying states include New Jersey, New York, and Hawaii. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 345,130 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Musical Theatre by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Musical Theatre programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Musical Theatre is found at American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) (129 graduates), Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) (61 graduates), Berklee College of Music (57 graduates), Roosevelt University (35 graduates), and Columbia College Chicago (CCC) (31 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,137 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
129 | New York, New York | Private | amda.edu |
| Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) |
Bachelor's
|
61 | New York, New York | Private | mmm.edu |
| Berklee College of Music |
Bachelor's
|
57 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | berklee.edu |
| Roosevelt University |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | roosevelt.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts (NYCDA) |
Associate's
|
31 | New York, New York | Private | nycda.edu |
| Point Park University |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | pointpark.edu |
| Manhattan School of Music (MSM) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | New York, New York | Private | msmnyc.edu |
| The New School |
Bachelor's
|
23 | New York, New York | Private | newschool.edu |
| Viterbo University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Private | viterbo.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Pace University |
Bachelor's
|
20 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| University of Northern Colorado (UNCO) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | unco.edu |
| Ithaca College (IC) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Ithaca, New York | Private | ithaca.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Millikin University |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Decatur, Illinois | Private | millikin.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| The University of Tampa (UTampa) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Tampa, Florida | Private | ut.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Danbury, Connecticut | Public | wcsu.edu |
| Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Bloomington, Illinois | Private | iwu.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
| Emerson College |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | emerson.edu |
| Elon University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Vanguard University of Southern California |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Costa Mesa, California | Private | vanguard.edu |
| Florida Southern College (FSC) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Lakeland, Florida | Private | flsouthern.edu |
| North Central College |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Naperville, Illinois | Private | northcentralcollege.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Purchase, New York | Public | purchase.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | loyno.edu |
| Webster University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | webster.edu |
| Manhattanville College |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Purchase, New York | Private | mville.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Fredonia, New York | Public | fredonia.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| Stephens College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Columbia, Missouri | Private | stephens.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
8 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Anderson University (AU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Anderson, South Carolina | Private | andersonuniversity.edu |
| Cornish College of the Arts |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Seattle, Washington | Private | cornish.edu |
| Samford University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Reinhardt University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Waleska, Georgia | Private | reinhardt.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| West Texas A & M University (WTAMU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Canyon, Texas | Public | wtamu.edu |
| Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Private | obu.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Anderson University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Anderson, Indiana | Private | anderson.edu |
| Xavier University (XU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | xavier.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| New York Film Academy (NYFA) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
6 | Burbank, California | Private | nyfa.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Other Award
|
5 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Private | nebrwesleyan.edu |
| Otterbein University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Westerville, Ohio | Private | otterbein.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Central Washington University (CWU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Ellensburg, Washington | Public | cwu.edu |
| Young Harris College (YHC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Young Harris, Georgia | Private | yhc.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Natchitoches, Louisiana | Public | nsula.edu |
| University of Central Missouri (UCM) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Warrensburg, Missouri | Public | ucmo.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Geneseo, New York | Public | geneseo.edu |
| William Peace University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | peace.edu |
| Lancaster Bible College (LBC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | lbc.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Modesto Junior College (MJC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Modesto, California | Public | mjc.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Other Award
|
3 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Joplin, Missouri | Public | mssu.edu |
| Mars Hill University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Mars Hill, North Carolina | Private | mhu.edu |
| Messiah University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Private | messiah.edu |
| Converse University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Private | converse.edu |
| KD Conservatory College of Film and Dramatic Arts |
Associate's
|
3 | Dallas, Texas | Private | kdstudio.com |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Glendale, Arizona | Public | gccaz.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Brenau University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Gainesville, Georgia | Private | brenau.edu |
| Aurora University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Aurora, Illinois | Private | aurora.edu |
| Central College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Pella, Iowa | Private | central.edu |
| Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Council Bluffs, Iowa | Public | iwcc.edu |
| Sterling College (SC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Sterling, Kansas | Private | sterling.edu |
| Shawnee State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Portsmouth, Ohio | Public | shawnee.edu |
| Southern Utah University (SUU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | suu.edu |
| Emory & Henry University (E&H) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Emory, Virginia | Private | ehc.edu |
| West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Buckhannon, West Virginia | Private | wvwc.edu |
| Casper College |
Associate's
|
2 | Casper, Wyoming | Public | caspercollege.edu |
| University of Mobile |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Mobile, Alabama | Private | umobile.edu |
| University of North Alabama (UNA) |
Other Award
|
1 | Florence, Alabama | Public | una.edu |
| Scottsdale Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | scottsdalecc.edu |
| College of the Desert (COD) |
Other Award
|
1 | Palm Desert, California | Public | collegeofthedesert.edu |
| Piedmont University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Demorest, Georgia | Private | piedmont.edu |
| Elmhurst University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Elmhurst, Illinois | Private | elmhurst.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Musical Theatre programs
How much can I earn with a Musical Theatre degree?
Salaries for Musical Theatre graduates vary by role and location. Producers and Directors earn a median of $83,480 annually, while Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $80,190. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in New Jersey average $103,480 compared to $48,383 in South Dakota. Approximately 345,130 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Musical Theatre programs?
Currently 120 accredited institutions offer Musical Theatre degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) (129 graduates), Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) (61 graduates), and Berklee College of Music (57 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Musical Theatre growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 175 in 2010 to 1,157 in 2023-24. This represents a 561% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Musical Theatre degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Producers and Directors, Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, and Music Directors and Composers. Related occupations employ approximately 345,130 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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