Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Suffolk County Community College
NY · Associate's Degree · CIP 50.05
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degree from Suffolk County Community College earn a median salary of $37,897 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NY, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $28,710. The degree typically pays for itself in 23.1 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$25,301
Typical Career
$37,897
Top Performers
$55,746
Estimated break-even: 23.1 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$253
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,158. Most students can comfortably afford about a $253 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in New York buys what costs $1.32 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Retail Trade.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$28,710
Nominal: $37,897 in New York (COL 132.0% of national avg) · 24.2% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $18,757 | $24,514 | $30,123 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $25,301 | $37,897 | $55,746 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $40,680 | $50,919 | $68,758 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $37,897 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NY, which has a cost-of-living index of 132.0% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $37,897 × (1.0 ÷ 1.3200)
= $28,710 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
Graduates primarily enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, with 27.2% and 24.2% of them working in this field, followed by 13.6% in Professional, Scientific & Technical Services. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is around 23.1 years, suggesting a lengthy period before one might see a return on investment for their education. This extended timeline may influence students' decisions regarding the financial viability of pursuing a degree in this field.
Compare with Another School
See how the Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft degree at Suffolk County Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at Suffolk County Community College.
Explore More
Other Degrees at Suffolk County Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.