Communication and Media Studies at University of Missouri - Kansas City
MO · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 09.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Communication and Media Studies degree from University of Missouri - Kansas City earn a median salary of $53,387 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $59,851. The degree typically pays for itself in 9.8 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$39,196
Typical Career
$53,387
Top Performers
$71,065
Estimated break-even: 9.8 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$356
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,449. Most students can comfortably afford about a $356 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Missouri buys what costs $0.89 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Educational Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$59,851
Nominal: $53,387 in Missouri (COL 89.2% of national avg) · 12.1% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $27,950 | $38,652 | $49,067 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $39,196 | $53,387 | $71,065 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $48,690 | $70,870 | $96,023 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $53,387 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MO, which has a cost-of-living index of 89.2% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $53,387 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8920)
= $59,851 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates reveal a diverse range of opportunities, with 25.9% entering Health Care & Social Assistance, 15.4% in Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, and 14.3% in Educational Services. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 9.8 years, suggesting a moderate return on investment for those pursuing this degree. Overall, while the financial benefits of a degree in Communication and Media Studies are evident, prospective students should weigh these against their career aspirations and the specific industries they wish to enter.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Communication and Media Studies degree at University of Missouri - Kansas City stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.