Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern's communications graduates start behind the curve at $35,649—below both the Georgia median ($38,554) and national average ($39,794)—but the program's strength lies in what happens next. Earnings jump 32% to $47,021 by year four, ultimately surpassing both benchmarks and closing much of the gap with higher-ranked programs like Kennesaw State. Among Georgia's 13 communications programs, this sits squarely at the 40th percentile initially, making it a middle-of-the-pack option in the state.

The $25,000 debt load is reasonable, matching both state and national medians, which keeps the financial risk manageable during those lean early years. The 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one is tight but not crushing, and graduates who stick it out see that ratio improve significantly as their careers gain traction. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates suggests these patterns are reliable, not statistical noise.

For parents, this is a program that rewards patience and career-building. If your student is committed to communications work and willing to grind through lower starting pay, the trajectory is promising. However, if they need strong immediate earnings—or if you're comparing to UGA's communications program at $45,326—understand they'll be starting $10,000 behind. The growth is there, but it takes time to materialize.