Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at Jackson State University

Jackson State's Communication Disorders program posts a troubling first-year salary of just $17,858—about 27% below Mississippi's already-modest state median of $21,079 and nearly $7,000 below the national median. While graduates carry $25,000 in debt (typical for this field), that translates to a 1.40 debt-to-earnings ratio when paired with these wages. For context, the University of Mississippi's similar program shows first-year earnings of $24,300, suggesting significantly better employment outcomes are achievable within the state.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift dramatically year-to-year, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant caution. Communication disorders typically requires graduate education for most clinical positions, so these bachelor's-level graduates may be working in lower-paid assistant roles while continuing their education. If your child plans to stop at a bachelor's degree, this field presents real financial challenges. If they're using this as a stepping stone to a master's program, understand they'll be starting that journey with substantial debt and limited earning power during the transition years.

The clearest alternative: if speech-language pathology is the goal, investigate whether starting at Ole Miss or attending graduate school there might provide better professional networks and employment pipelines, given the $6,500 earnings gap in just the first year.