Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Ferris State University

Ferris State's communications program sits squarely in the middle of Michigan's offerings, earning graduates $40 less per year than the state median four years out. At $22,580 in debt—about $2,300 below the state average—the program's main advantage is affordability rather than earning power. The 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, meaning graduates typically dedicate about 7 months of first-year salary to debt repayment, but this ranking at the 40th percentile statewide suggests your child could likely access stronger options at similar or lower cost, particularly at Michigan State or Eastern Michigan.

The 22% earnings growth between years one and four is healthy, reaching $46,761 by the fourth year post-graduation. However, starting nearly $7,000 behind Michigan State's graduates creates a gap that doesn't fully close over time. For an 81% admission rate school, this represents reasonable outcomes—graduates aren't struggling, but they're also not outperforming peers from comparable institutions. The moderate sample size means these numbers are fairly reliable.

The bottom line: This program won't saddle your child with crushing debt, but if they can access Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, or even Central Michigan (all reasonably accessible schools given their admission profiles), those would deliver better returns on a communications degree. Ferris makes sense primarily for students who need to stay near Big Rapids or who strongly prefer the campus environment, not because the program itself offers competitive advantages.