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Communication and Media Studies at Missouri Southern State University

Joplin, MO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,201/yr (-14% vs median)

AI Risk High (55% exposed)

Job Market Large (83,300 openings/yr)

ROI 16.2x earnings multiple (8.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #207 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	$554K	$546K	$499K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.5x	16.2x	14.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.2x	8.1x	7.4x
Probability of Field Employment	46%	40%	29%
DegreeOutlook Score	41	41	35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$33,600

Out-of-state: $67,200 (8.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$46,612

-39% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,686

7.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$53,540

77% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $30,201/yr, Communication and Media Studies graduates from Missouri Southern State University land near the $35,147 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 16.2x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $18,686 debt-to-$30,201 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #207 out of 613 programs, Missouri Southern State University's Communication and Media Studies offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $30,201 to $53,540 over five years (77% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Missouri Southern State University

With 97% of applicants admitted, Missouri Southern State University prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 3,101 students in Joplin, MO.

See all programs and financial aid at Missouri Southern 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 Missouri Southern State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

This program scores 41/100 — 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 →