Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Elmhurst University

In Illinois, communications programs at private schools typically leave graduates with around $26,000 in debt—a figure that becomes meaningful when paired with first-year earnings around $41,000. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 sits in manageable territory, suggesting graduates could reasonably tackle repayment while covering living expenses, though it won't be comfortable in those first years.

What's telling here is the comparison to peer institutions. Similar programs at North Central and U of I produce graduates earning nearly $7,000 more in their first year, while Illinois State and Loyola also show stronger outcomes. When choosing between communications programs that use comparable pedagogical approaches, these earning differences matter—they compound over a career. The national data shows this field clusters tightly around $40,000 for starting salaries, so programs significantly above that mark are demonstrably doing something different in terms of employer connections or student preparation.

For families considering Elmhurst, the practical question is whether this program justifies its cost when stronger-performing alternatives exist in the same state. The debt burden isn't crushing, but you're paying private school prices for earnings that match the Illinois median. If Elmhurst offers specific advantages—location, smaller classes, particular faculty connections in PR or advertising—those could tip the balance. Otherwise, the data suggests looking closely at programs where graduates are clearing $45,000 or more right out of the gate.