Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Arizona State's communication graduates start nearly $9,000 behind the national median for this major, earning just $31,093 in their first year—a figure that places them in the bottom 5% nationally. Even within Arizona's small market of four programs, ASU ranks last, trailing Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona by roughly $6,000. For a flagship state university with strong resources and brand recognition, these outcomes are disappointing.

The debt picture provides little consolation. While the $20,847 borrowing level sits slightly below Arizona's median, it's still substantial given those weak earnings. A 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates are carrying debt equal to two-thirds of their annual income—manageable on paper, but tight when you're making barely $30,000 in expensive metro Phoenix. The concerning part isn't just the starting point; it's that 30% of students here receive Peel grants, suggesting many come from families with limited financial cushion to help weather lean early-career years.

The 90% admission rate signals that getting in isn't the challenge—getting out with competitive earning power is. If your child is committed to PR or advertising, they'd statistically fare better at either of ASU's in-state competitors. Unless ASU offers specific faculty connections or program features worth that $6,000 annual gap, families should seriously consider the alternatives before committing to this pathway.