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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Peer schools offering Communication and Media Studies
How Texas A & M University-Kingsville stacks up against other schools offering this major.
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 →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.