Marketing at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Marketing associate degree graduates from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College face a challenging financial reality, earning around $28,000 annually—well below the $42,000 national median for this program. While these graduates rank at the 60th percentile within Mississippi, that comparison offers little comfort when state-level earnings for marketing associates hover at just two-thirds of what graduates earn nationwide.

The debt burden of $17,175 translates to more than seven months of gross income, which is concerning for an associate degree. Graduates see minimal earnings growth over four years, with income climbing only $900. This flat trajectory suggests these graduates may struggle to advance into better-paying marketing roles, a field where bachelor's degree holders typically dominate higher-earning positions.

The program's small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with a different cohort, but the pattern aligns with a broader reality: marketing associate degrees rarely lead to strong earnings outcomes. For a Mississippi family, the calculus is stark—your child could earn similar wages in many positions that don't require two years of college and nearly $17,000 in debt. Unless this serves as a stepping stone to a bachelor's program at minimal cost, families should consider alternative paths into marketing careers or explore other associate degrees with stronger earning potential in Mississippi's job market.