Theater & Drama: CUNY Brooklyn College vs Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY
In-State
9.2x
$29,808 tuition
5.8x
$61,912 tuition
Out-of-State
4.4x
$61,608 tuition
2.5x
$146,776 tuition
$20,645/yr starting · Public
$36,557/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

CUNY Brooklyn College Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.2x 5.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 2.5x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $29,808 $61,912
Year 1 Earnings $20,645 $36,557
10-Year Earnings $274K $360K
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 45/100 48/100
Acceptance Rate 53.7% 57.0%

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

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Theater & Drama graduates.

CUNY Brooklyn College Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $29,808 $61,912
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $61,608 $146,776
10-Year Projected Earnings $274K $360K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.2x 5.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 2.5x
5-Year Salary Growth +89% +-2%

"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 Theater & Drama (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

CUNY Brooklyn College Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $469K $274K $167K $419K $360K $296K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 15.7x 9.2x 5.6x 6.8x 5.8x 4.8x
DegreeWorth Score 50 45 39 49 48 46

For the full AI analysis of Theater & Drama career paths, see the CUNY Brooklyn College or Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Theater & Drama graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$32,104
CUNY Brooklyn College saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$15,912/yr
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
9.2x / 5.8x
Out-of-state: 4.4x / 2.5x

Career Paths

Theater & Drama 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%

Explore Each Program

More Theater & Drama Comparisons

Theater & Drama Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Theater & Drama: CUNY Brooklyn College or Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
CUNY Brooklyn College scores 45/100 while Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores 48/100. CUNY Brooklyn College 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 Theater & Drama?
CUNY Brooklyn College has an in-state earnings multiple of 9.2x vs Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's 5.8x. That means CUNY Brooklyn College grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $32,104 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do CUNY Brooklyn College and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University compare on Theater & Drama earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $20,645 at CUNY Brooklyn College vs $36,557 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $273,906 vs $360,351 — a difference of $86,445.
How much does Theater & Drama cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $29,808 at CUNY Brooklyn College and $61,912 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Both programs lead to the same Theater & Drama 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.