Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Barry University

Communications graduates in Florida face a competitive landscape where starting salaries hover around $36,000, and Barry's estimated outcomes align with that state median—though notably below what graduates from UF, FSU, and Miami command. Based on comparable programs at similar Florida institutions, a graduate here might carry about $24,000 in debt, which translates to roughly eight months of gross first-year earnings. That's manageable by most standards, but it assumes steady employment in a field where entry-level positions can be contract-based or require unpaid internships before landing paid work.

The larger concern isn't the debt load itself—it's competitive in absolute terms—but rather the earning trajectory in communications. Peer programs across Florida suggest first-year salaries that leave little cushion for loan payments alongside Miami's cost of living. With 46% of Barry students receiving Pell grants, many graduates will be balancing loan payments with limited family financial support. The schools producing $42,000+ starting salaries have a clear advantage in helping graduates gain financial footing faster.

If your child is committed to communications and Barry offers strong industry connections or internship pipelines in Miami's media market, the debt-to-earnings picture is workable. But if comparable programs at Florida's public universities are accessible, those appear to deliver better financial outcomes for the same credential. The question isn't whether this is a disaster—it isn't—but whether Barry provides enough differentiation to justify potentially lower earnings than peers.