Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Florida Memorial University

In Florida's communications field, earnings tend to cluster in the mid-to-high $30,000s, and this program's estimated first-year salary of $36,000 follows that pattern—matching the state median for similar programs. What separates Florida Memorial from its competitors, though, is the debt picture. While comparable Florida programs typically saddle graduates with around $18,375 in loans, estimates here suggest $24,063, which is actually closer to the national median than the state average.

That $24,000 debt load against $36,000 in earnings produces a 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio—manageable compared to many fields, but worth scrutinizing when you consider that Florida's flagship communications programs (University of Florida, Florida State) are producing graduates who earn $5,000-7,000 more annually with potentially less debt. For a school serving predominantly Pell-eligible students, that gap matters. The higher debt estimate may reflect the realities of financing a private HBCU education, but it also means this program's value proposition depends heavily on factors beyond the numbers—institutional support, networking opportunities, and career services that could help graduates break past that estimated starting salary.

If your student is committed to communications and values Florida Memorial's community and mission, the debt burden here isn't catastrophic. But compare net costs carefully against Florida's public options, which appear to deliver stronger earnings potential at lower cost for this particular major.