Communication and Media Studies at Jackson State University

Jackson State's Communication and Media Studies program graduates earn $24,235 in their first year—roughly $5,000 below the Mississippi median and nearly $11,000 under the national average. While earnings do climb to $32,288 by year four (a respectable 33% gain), graduates are starting with $31,624 in debt, meaning they're facing debt loads that exceed their entire first year of income. For context, Mississippi College graduates in the same major start at $37,000, while Mississippi State grads earn $32,000—both significantly ahead.

The earnings trajectory tells a more complete story: that first-year figure of $24,000 barely clears poverty-level wages, and even after four years, graduates are just reaching what their peers at other Mississippi schools earn immediately. The debt burden compounds this challenge—it's higher than both state and national medians for communication programs. Your child would be repaying loans while earning substantially less than most communications graduates, both locally and nationally.

This program serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body at an accessible institution, which matters for students with limited college options. But the financial math is difficult: starting $5,000 behind state peers with $4,500 more debt creates a years-long disadvantage. If your child is set on communications and Jackson State specifically, understand they'll likely need family support or multiple income sources early in their career to manage loan payments comfortably.