Visual & Performing Arts at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Visual and Performing Arts, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
30
Optimistic
29
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings
$24,752/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Large (63,400 openings/yr)
ROI
13.1x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Visual & Performing Arts graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $517K | $515K | $479K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.2x | 13.1x | 12.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.9x | 4.8x | 4.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 41% | 37% | 30% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 30 | 29 | 26 |
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 (4.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
13.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,246
87% growth from Year 1
About Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 18,092 in Mississippi State, MS.
See all programs and financial aid at Mississippi State University →Top Career Paths
Art directors
$111,040/yr
Special effects artists and animators
$99,800/yr
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
$80,190/yr
Compare & Explore
Visual & Performing Arts at Other Schools
Other Majors at Mississippi 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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Visual & Performing Arts at Mississippi State University?
A score of 29/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Visual & Performing Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Visual & Performing Arts at Mississippi State University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $27,000 against $24,752/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
Will AI replace Visual & Performing Arts careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $479,205 in decade earnings vs $516,943 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Mississippi State University's Visual & Performing Arts program stand out?
Ranked #13 of 59 programs nationally, Mississippi State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →