If you value creative expression above all else and want to spend your life and career creating, supporting, facilitating, or teaching art in any of its forms, a Performing Arts degree may be the perfect fit for you.

Types of Degrees

There is no true formal education requirement for those looking to break into the entertainment and performing arts business but an associate degree (2 years) or bachelor's degree (4 years) in theater arts, drama, acting, music, dance, or choreography can help you gain the technical skills and performance experience you need. In this industry, experience is oftentimes more highly valued than education, but an educational foundation can offer experience as well as instruction in theory and technique. A master's or doctorate degree as well as industry experience is typically required before one can become a Performing Arts Professor.

Admission Requirements

A high school diploma or equivalent is required, with a strong academic background and extracurricular experience in theater, art, design, or dance helping applicants obtain acceptance into their desired school. Each school has its own specific requirements, making it important for you to explore several options before settling on a particular school.

Career Opportunities After Earning A Performing Arts Degree

The range of career opportunities available to someone with a degree in Performing Arts include:

• Actor/Actress
• Dancer and/or Choreographer
• Art, Drama, and Music Teacher, Postsecondary
• Information based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

Post Graduate Salary Information

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for an Actor was $29.05 per hour in 2025 ¹ while Dancers and Choreographers earned a median pay of $25.40 per hour in 2025. ²

Note that the average salary varies widely not only depending on career chosen, but on geographical location and employer. Conditions in your area may vary.

References

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Careers associated with these educational opportunities often require additional degrees and certifications not offered as part of the educational opportunities presented by this website.
• Information based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.