Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: CUNY Queens College vs Western Carolina University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY
In-State
20.9x
$30,152 tuition
25.4x
$18,128 tuition
Out-of-State
10.2x
$61,952 tuition
13.5x
$34,128 tuition
$630,284 10-yr earnings · Public
$460,389 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

CUNY Queens College Western Carolina University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.9x 25.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.2x 13.5x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $30,152 $18,128
Year 1 Earnings $11,604 $21,824
10-Year Earnings $630K $460K
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 38/100 42/100
Acceptance Rate 68.5% 86.7%

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.

CUNY Queens College Western Carolina University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $30,152 $18,128
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $61,952 $34,128
10-Year Projected Earnings $630K $460K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.9x 25.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.2x 13.5x
5-Year Salary Growth +310% +61%

"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.

CUNY Queens College Western Carolina University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $641K $630K $571K $458K $460K $434K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 21.3x 20.9x 18.9x 25.3x 25.4x 23.9x
DegreeWorth Score 39 38 36 43 42 38

For the full AI analysis of Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft career paths, see the CUNY Queens College or Western Carolina University 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)
$12,024
Western Carolina University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$10,220/yr
Western Carolina University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
20.9x / 25.4x
Out-of-state: 10.2x / 13.5x

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%
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Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: CUNY Queens College or Western Carolina University?
CUNY Queens College scores 38/100 while Western Carolina University scores 42/100. Western Carolina University 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?
CUNY Queens College has an in-state earnings multiple of 20.9x vs Western Carolina University's 25.4x. That means Western Carolina University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do CUNY Queens College and Western Carolina University compare on Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $11,604 at CUNY Queens College vs $21,824 at Western Carolina University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $630,284 vs $460,389 — a difference of $169,895.
How much does Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $30,152 at CUNY Queens College and $18,128 at Western Carolina University. 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.