Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at DeSales University

Based on comparable communications programs in Pennsylvania, DeSales graduates can expect to earn around $36,600 in their first year—below the national median of nearly $40,000 for this field. The estimated debt load of $26,500 creates a ratio of 0.72, meaning borrowers would owe roughly nine months of first-year salary. While this falls within manageable territory by conventional standards, it's worth noting that Temple and Duquesne graduates in similar programs start $3,000-$5,000 higher, potentially making those programs easier to pay off despite likely carrying similar or higher debt.

The challenge here isn't just the starting salary—it's that communications careers often require unpaid internships, freelance hustling, and living in expensive media markets to advance. A $36,600 starting point leaves little cushion for these realities, especially when monthly loan payments kick in. DeSales' smaller size (only 23% of students receive Pell grants) might offer networking advantages, but that benefit is hard to quantify against the concrete financial tradeoff.

For parents financing this degree, the key question is whether DeSales provides distinct career placement advantages that justify starting lower than peer programs. Without actual outcomes data for this specific program, you're banking on their network and internship connections making up the difference. If your student is self-driven and can secure strong internships independently, the larger programs with higher starting salaries might offer better value.