Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $44,078 put University of Missouri-Columbia's Communication and Media Studies program 25% above the national median of $35,147 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.7x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Communication and Media Studies's typical career paths, with 55% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $44,078 far exceeding the $19,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #83 of 613 nationally, this is a top-5% Communication and Media Studies program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $44,078 to $59,233 over five years — a 34% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.