Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Cornerstone University

Cornerstone's communications program lacks sufficient graduate data for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes, so we're working with estimates drawn from 11 similar Michigan programs and 79 comparable schools nationwide. Based on those peer programs, first-year earnings around $40,300 against $25,800 in debt produces a manageable 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio—slightly above the national median debt of $24,625 but paired with earnings that track closely with Michigan's state median.

The challenge is that reported outcomes from Michigan's larger programs show earnings ranging from $40,300 to $45,100, meaning Cornerstone graduates could realistically fall anywhere in—or below—that range. Michigan State's communications graduates earn about $5,000 more in their first year than these estimates suggest, while several mid-sized state universities cluster right around the $41,000 mark. Without actual data on Cornerstone's specific placement patterns or industry connections in Grand Rapids, you're essentially betting that their outcomes will mirror the state average rather than lag behind it.

The estimates suggest a workable financial picture if everything performs as expected, but the lack of reportable data means you're flying blind on what actually happens to Cornerstone communications graduates. If your student is considering this program, press the admissions office hard for concrete employment outcomes—where recent graduates work, what roles they're filling, and whether those placements justify the investment over more established programs with proven track records.