Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Colorado Media School

That $15,718 in first-year earnings is startling—it's barely above minimum wage for full-time work in Denver, where the cost of living runs well above the national average. While Colorado Media School's certificate performs slightly better than the state median (60th percentile), it's worth noting there's only one other CO program to compare against, making this ranking essentially meaningless. The nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper, but when your annual earnings barely cover rent in Denver for a few months, even modest debt becomes a real burden.

The small sample size here—under 30 graduates—raises serious questions about program stability and whether these numbers reliably predict future outcomes. With 42% of students receiving Pell grants, many families are counting on this certificate to deliver economic mobility, but these earnings suggest graduates may be landing entry-level or part-time positions rather than established careers in the field. Public relations and advertising typically require building experience and connections over time, and a certificate program may not provide enough credential weight to command better starting positions.

For an anxious parent, the honest assessment is this: if your child needs immediate earning power to justify the investment, this certificate isn't delivering it in year one. It might work as a low-cost credential to stack onto existing experience or education, but as a standalone pathway to financial independence, these numbers suggest you'll be supporting your graduate for longer than you'd hope.