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Data Processing at University of Southern Mississippi

Hattiesburg, MS · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,734/yr (-31% vs median)

AI Risk High (57% exposed)

Job Market Large (31,300 openings/yr)

ROI 11.7x earnings multiple (9.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #3 of 3 Data Processing programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Data Processing graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$444K	$448K	$440K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.5x	11.7x	11.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	9.6x	9.6x	9.5x
Probability of Field Employment	80%	74%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	36	35	42

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,472

Out-of-state: $46,472 (9.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,896

-48% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,500

7.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,734 place University of Southern Mississippi below the $54,685 national median for Data Processing — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Data Processing programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Data Processing's typical career paths, with 57% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 1% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $37,734 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

This program is one of 3 schools offering Data Processing in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

About University of Southern Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 9,899 students in Hattiesburg, MS. With 47% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Southern Mississippi →

Top Career Paths

Computer occupations, all other $108,970/yr

View all 1 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Data Processing at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Southern Mississippi

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Data Processing at University of Southern Mississippi?

A score of 35/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Data Processing. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Data Processing careers?

With 57% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $440,380 in decade earnings vs $444,346 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Data Processing from University of Southern Mississippi?

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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →