Est. Earnings (1yr)
$38,861
Est. from IN median (6 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$27,000
Est. from IN median (3 programs)

Analysis

Indiana communications programs show substantial variation in starting salaries, from the low $30,000s to nearly $50,000, and Grace's program appears to land in the middle of this range. Based on comparable programs in Indiana, graduates here are estimated to earn around $38,900 in their first year—matching the state median and tracking closely with national benchmarks. The estimated $27,000 debt load, while modest by contemporary standards, still requires careful consideration given the field's typical entry-level salaries.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 suggests manageable repayment for most graduates, roughly equivalent to what similar Indiana programs produce. However, the wide gulf between programs in the state—with Indiana Wesleyan graduates earning nearly $10,000 more annually—highlights how much outcomes can vary within the same field. For a communications career where networks, internship access, and institutional reputation matter significantly, understanding what differentiates Grace's program from higher-earning competitors becomes crucial.

Because these figures are estimates drawn from peer programs rather than Grace's actual graduate outcomes, they offer directional guidance but not certainty. If your student is seriously considering this program, direct conversations with Grace about job placement rates, employer connections, and where recent graduates actually landed would help clarify whether this investment makes sense for your family's situation.

Where Grace College and Theological Seminary Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all public relations, advertising, and applied communication bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (16 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Grace College and Theological SeminaryWinona Lake$30,034$38,861*$27,000*
Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMarion$31,168$48,225*$32,082*0.67
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalMarion$8,216$48,225**
Butler UniversityIndianapolis$45,980$39,701*$46,663$26,176*0.66
Ball State UniversityMuncie$10,758$38,020*$51,378$23,879*0.63
Franklin CollegeFranklin$37,350$36,964*$27,000*0.73
National Median$39,794*$24,625*0.62
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with public relations, advertising, and applied communication graduates

Advertising and Promotions Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Public Relations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraising Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Technical Writers

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

$91,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Editors

Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.

$75,260/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Public Relations Specialists

Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.

$69,780/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraisers

Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.

$66,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Specialists

Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.

$65,850/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Health Education Specialists

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Use data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May link health systems, health providers, insurers, and patients to address individual and population health needs. May serve as resource to assist individuals, other health professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

$63,000/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Grace College and Theological Seminary, approximately 29% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 6 similar programs in IN. Actual outcomes may vary.