Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Ashland University

Ashland University's communications graduates start well below what you'd expect from this field—$29,437 is in the bottom 5% nationally and the bottom quarter even within Ohio, where the state median is $41,677. That's a $12,000 gap compared to other Ohio programs, and the $27,125 in debt means graduates are spending nearly their entire first year's salary just servicing what they borrowed.

The positive story here is the 47% earnings jump to $43,392 by year four, which brings graduates much closer to competitive levels. That trajectory suggests the degree opens doors that take time to walk through—internships convert to real positions, entry-level roles lead to account management, and the initial salary deficit starts to close. Still, even at year four, graduates trail the Miami University programs by $7,000+ annually.

The major asterisk: this analysis is based on fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could swing significantly in either direction. For a family weighing this decision, the question is whether you're comfortable with a rough start financially—nearly a year of earnings going toward debt—in exchange for a program that might eventually deliver market-rate outcomes. If your child has offers from other Ohio schools in this field, the data suggests they'll likely start stronger elsewhere.