Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at California Baptist University

California Baptist University's PR and communications program starts graduates at just $32,782—roughly $7,000 below both the state and national medians. Among California's 17 programs, this places in the bottom quartile, trailing not just elite private schools like USC and Pepperdine but also public options like San Diego State. The manageable debt load ($22,718) helps offset the weak starting salary, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.7, but this is a field where earning power matters for building a sustainable career.

The 33% earnings growth to $43,438 by year four is encouraging and suggests graduates do gain traction over time. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, making it harder to judge whether this trajectory is reliable. For context, National University and USC graduates in this same field start at $50,000—giving them a nearly $18,000 head start that compounds over time.

For families considering this program, the critical question is opportunity cost. If your student can access a CSU campus like San Diego State (where grads earn $44,197 right out of school), that likely offers better value in this field. If California Baptist appeals for other reasons—campus culture, smaller class sizes, faith-based education—understand you're accepting a meaningful financial tradeoff in a profession where networking and early career momentum often determine long-term success.