Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky's communications program starts graduates at $34,920, putting them roughly $5,000 behind the national median and $2,000 below Kentucky's typical graduate in this field. Among the ten Kentucky programs offering this degree, it ranks middle-of-the-pack—ahead of smaller regional universities but trailing the state flagship and NKU by significant margins. For context, a UK graduate in this same program earns $10,000 more right out of the gate.

The debt load of $25,192 is actually reasonable for the field, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72. That's manageable, especially given that earnings grow 21% by year four to reach $42,222—which closes the gap with national averages considerably. The financial picture isn't alarming, but it's not particularly strong either. Students here are starting their careers at a disadvantage compared to peers at larger Kentucky universities, though the debt burden won't overwhelm them.

For families weighing in-state options, this makes sense primarily as a cost consideration: if EKU comes significantly cheaper than UK or NKU after scholarships, the lower initial earnings might be worth the tradeoff. But if costs are similar, the other programs offer better career launch pads. The 78% admission rate and high Pell grant enrollment suggest EKU serves students who might not have access to more selective programs—for those students specifically, this degree provides a viable path into communications work without crushing debt.