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Communication and Media Studies at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,812/yr (-9% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 13.3x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #269 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Communication and Media Studies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$527K	$522K	$482K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.4x	13.3x	12.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.0x	4.9x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	39	38	33

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$39,260

Out-of-state: $106,320 (4.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$62,004

-58% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,250

8.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,575

59% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $31,812/yr, roughly in line with the $35,147 national median for Communication and Media Studies. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 13.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 55% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,250 debt-to-$31,812 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #269 out of 613 programs, Mississippi State University's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $31,812 to $50,575 over five years (59% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 18,092 students in Mississippi State, MS.

See all programs and financial aid at Mississippi State University →

Top Career Paths

Public relations managers $138,520/yr

Fundraising managers $123,480/yr

Communications teachers, postsecondary $77,800/yr

View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Communication and Media Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Mississippi State University

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Mississippi State University's Communication and Media Studies program score?

This program scores 38/100 — on the lower end for Communication and Media Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Communication and Media Studies to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Communication and Media Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 55% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →