Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Mississippi
Ranked by graduate earnings
Mississippi Christian University, Mississippi State University and Jackson State University are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Mississippi by graduate earnings. Mississippi Christian University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,949, College Scorecard. Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi and Jackson State University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Mississippi: 131, 32 and 31 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 Mississippi colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 274 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Communication and Media Studies program focuses on the processes of human communication and behavior, exploring how individuals and groups exchange ideas and information across various media. This program is designed for students…
Top 4 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi Christian University Clinton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,949 | 20 | 59% | $21,096 | $24,463 |
| 2 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,812 | 131 | 67% | — | $24,219 |
| 3 | Jackson State University Jackson Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,235 | 31 | 51% | — | $31,624 |
| 4 | Alcorn State University Alcorn State Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,087 | 12 | 57% | — | $29,600 |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Mississippi
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State Public | 131 | $31,812 |
| 2 | University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg Public | 32 | Not reported |
| 3 | Jackson State University Jackson Public | 31 | $24,235 |
| 4 | Mississippi Christian University Clinton Private not-for-profit | 20 | $36,949 |
| 5 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 6 | Alcorn State University Alcorn State Public | 12 | $27,087 |
| 7 | Tougaloo College Tougaloo Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 8 | Holmes Community College Goodman Public | 7 | Not reported |
| 9 | Mississippi University for Women Columbus Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 10 | Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wesson Public | 4 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 3 Mississippi colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millsaps College | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| East Mississippi Community College | Scooba | Public | 2 |
| William Carey University | Hattiesburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Mississippi
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Mississippi.
Which Mississippi colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
Mississippi State University (131 graduates a year), University of Southern Mississippi (32 graduates a year) and Jackson State University (31 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Mississippi, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 Mississippi colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Mississippi?+
By graduate earnings, Mississippi Christian University leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Mississippi, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,949, College Scorecard. Mississippi State University and Jackson State University follow. By degrees awarded, Mississippi State University is the largest, with 131 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Mississippi has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Mississippi Christian University tops the list at $36,949. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Mississippi?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Mississippi is $64,830 (median $59,810), across about 950 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Communication and Media Studies program?+
The Communication and Media Studies program focuses on the processes of human communication and behavior, exploring how individuals and groups exchange ideas and information across various media. This program is designed for students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, speaking, writing, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Public Relations Specialists?+
The national job outlook is about +4.8% growth with around 27,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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