Home Schools Texas A & M University-Kingsville Communication and Media Studies
Communications · Communication and Media Studies Rank #543 of 613

Communication and Media Studiesat Texas A & M University-Kingsville

Graduates earn $20,175/yr in their first year — about 43.0% below the national Communication and Media Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $506K; scenarios range from $470K to $508K depending on AI disruption.

Kingsville, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
25 AT RISK
26
Optimistic
23
Pessimistic
Earnings
$20,175
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.6x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$506K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Texas A & M University-Kingsville

While the national salary data for communications roles looks impressive, your earnings reality will be shaped by the South Texas regional economy. Kingsville is not a major corporate or media hub like Dallas or Houston, so the high-paying public relations and management jobs are scarce locally. Graduates often find work in smaller businesses, non-profits, or local government roles within the region, where pay scales are simply lower. The university serves as a vital educational anchor for the area, but it doesn't have the extensive recruiting pipelines into national media companies that larger, urban universities might. To overcome this geographic disadvantage, your key action is to aggressively pursue remote internships with companies in major cities throughout your studies. This builds a resume and network that can help you land a higher-paying remote or relocated position after graduation.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$470K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score23/100
Earnings Multiple11.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$506K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score25/100
Earnings Multiple12.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$508K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score26/100
Earnings Multiple12.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Texas A & M University-Kingsville's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Communication and Media Studies graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Public relations managers
+5.0% 10-yr growth · 6,600 openings/yr
$138,520/yr
High
2
Fundraising managers
+4.2% 10-yr growth · 3,600 openings/yr
$123,480/yr
High
3
Communications teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 2,700 openings/yr
$77,800/yr
Moderate
4
Editors
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 9,800 openings/yr
$75,260/yr
High
5
Writers and authors
+3.6% 10-yr growth · 13,400 openings/yr
$72,270/yr
Very High
6
Media and communication workers, all other
+2.7% 10-yr growth · 3,000 openings/yr
$71,770/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies

How Texas A & M University-Kingsville stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
61
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
14.1x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
50
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
2.4x
ROI
Ashford University
CA · Private for-profit
47
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
8.2x
ROI
CUNY Graduate School and University Center
NY · Public
61
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
19.7x
ROI
Boston College
MA · Private nonprofit
46
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Also at Texas A & M University-Kingsville

Other top programs at Texas A & M University-Kingsville

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Texas A & M University-Kingsville, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Communication and Media Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Communication and Media Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Communication and Media Studies at Texas A & M University-Kingsville

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Communication and Media Studies at Texas A & M University-Kingsville?

A score of 25/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Communication and Media Studies. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Communication and Media Studies careers?

With 55% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $470,424 in decade earnings vs $508,109 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Communication and Media Studies from Texas A & M University-Kingsville?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.