Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: California State University-Dominguez Hills vs University of Alabama at Birmingham

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
15.1x
$28,256 tuition
12.2x
$35,328 tuition
Out-of-State
5.6x
$75,776 tuition
4.9x
$87,456 tuition
$427,642 10-yr earnings · Public
$430,503 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

California State University-Dominguez Hills University of Alabama at Birmingham
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.1x 12.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 4.9x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $28,256 $35,328
Year 1 Earnings $25,920 $26,670
10-Year Earnings $428K $431K
Median Debt $13,329 $24,784
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 6.2 months 11.2 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 39/100 35/100
Acceptance Rate 91.3% 88.4%

Both programs have moderate AI automation risk (37% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates.

California State University-Dominguez Hills University of Alabama at Birmingham
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $28,256 $35,328
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $75,776 $87,456
10-Year Projected Earnings $428K $431K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.1x 12.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 4.9x

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

California State University-Dominguez Hills University of Alabama at Birmingham
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $422K $428K $407K $425K $431K $410K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 14.9x 15.1x 14.4x 12.0x 12.2x 11.6x
DegreeWorth Score 39 39 34 36 35 30

For the full AI analysis of Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft career paths, see the California State University-Dominguez Hills or University of Alabama at Birmingham program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$7,072
California State University-Dominguez Hills saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$750/yr
University of Alabama at Birmingham grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
15.1x / 12.2x
Out-of-state: 5.6x / 4.9x

Career Paths

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Producers and directors $83,480 12,800 +4.9% 42%
Fashion designers $80,690 2,300 +2.0% 39%
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190 9,000 +1.7% 44%
Writers and authors $72,270 13,400 +3.6% 89%
Set and exhibit designers $66,280 2,500 +2.3% 39%
Music directors and composers $63,670 4,300 -0.3% 71%
Choreographers $55,600 700 +6.1% 27%
Costume attendants $54,810 1,800 +5.9% 26%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

More Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Comparisons

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: California State University-Dominguez Hills or University of Alabama at Birmingham?
California State University-Dominguez Hills scores 39/100 while University of Alabama at Birmingham scores 35/100. California State University-Dominguez Hills has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft?
California State University-Dominguez Hills has an in-state earnings multiple of 15.1x vs University of Alabama at Birmingham's 12.2x. That means California State University-Dominguez Hills grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do California State University-Dominguez Hills and University of Alabama at Birmingham compare on Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $25,920 at California State University-Dominguez Hills vs $26,670 at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $427,642 vs $430,503 — a difference of $2,861.
How much does Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $28,256 at California State University-Dominguez Hills and $35,328 at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Median debt at graduation is $13,329 vs $24,784. Both programs lead to the same Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.