Apparel and Textiles at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State's Apparel and Textiles program graduates earn $31,352 in their first year—about $5,600 below the national median for this field. While that puts it in just the 24th percentile nationally, context matters: among Mississippi's two schools offering this program, it actually ranks in the 60th percentile. The debt load of $24,625 translates to a manageable 0.79 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe roughly nine months' salary.

The challenge here isn't the debt—it's the limited earning power of the field itself. Even top-performing apparel programs nationally only reach about $40,000 in first-year earnings. For Mississippi families, this program delivers outcomes that match state averages while keeping debt reasonable, but parents should recognize they're investing in a field where $31,000 starting salaries are typical even at competitive schools.

The decision hinges on career goals: if your child is passionate about fashion merchandising, textile design, or retail management and plans to stay in the region, these numbers aren't alarming. But if the goal is primarily financial return, other programs at Mississippi State—engineering, business, or computer science—would offer stronger earnings trajectories from day one.