Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $32,076 track close to the $35,147 national median for Communication and Media Studies programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Communication and Media Studies programs nationally.
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 5% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $22,563 represents roughly 8 months of the $32,076 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #347 of 613 Communication and Media Studies programs, Missouri State University-Springfield falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $32,076 to $41,658 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.