Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Gannon University

Borrowing $26,500 to earn an estimated $36,600 in your first year puts you at a manageable 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio, though these figures come from comparable programs across Pennsylvania rather than Gannon's actual graduate outcomes. Similar communications programs in the state typically produce starting salaries in the mid-to-upper $30,000s, with Temple and Duquesne graduates pushing above $39,000. The national benchmark of nearly $40,000 suggests Pennsylvania programs generally trail the country by about $3,000, which matters when you're starting a career in competitive metro markets.

The estimated debt load aligns closely with both state and national medians, meaning you're not facing unusual borrowing for this field—but communications degrees rarely produce six-figure salaries that make debt disappear quickly. At these income levels, you'll be managing loan payments on an entry-level salary where every few thousand dollars matters for rent, transportation, and building your professional wardrobe.

The real question is whether Gannon offers specific advantages—internship pipelines, alumni networks in target cities, or production facilities—that justify choosing it over programs with documented higher earnings. Without actual graduate data, you're betting on comparable outcomes to other Pennsylvania programs. If Gannon costs significantly less than the schools with stronger reported earnings, the gamble makes more sense.