Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Assumption University

Assumption University's communications graduates earn $51,114 in their first year—nearly $5,000 above the Massachusetts median and almost 30% more than the national average for this field. At $27,000 in debt, students are borrowing exactly the state median but paying just slightly above the national figure, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 that signals manageable repayment. While this program ranks in the 60th percentile among Massachusetts schools (trailing Endicott and Suffolk but significantly ahead of larger programs like Emerson), it places in the 95th percentile nationally—making it one of the strongest communications programs in the country by earnings outcomes.

The 19% earnings growth through year four brings graduates to just over $60,000, which is solid but not exceptional progression for the field. Given communications programs' reputation for uncertain career paths, these numbers tell a different story: Assumption appears to have strong employer relationships or is placing graduates in higher-paying roles right out of the gate. For a school with an 87% admission rate, these outcomes punch well above what many selective institutions deliver for communications majors.

The math here is straightforward. Your child will likely graduate with debt they can reasonably service within two years of full-time work, while earning more than most communications graduates nationwide from day one. That's a legitimate value proposition in a field where many programs leave graduates scrambling.