Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State's communications program starts graduates below the middle of the pack—earning roughly $2,000 less initially than both the state and national medians—but there's a trajectory story here worth understanding. While first-year earnings of $38,172 lag behind Michigan competitors like Michigan State ($45,158) and Eastern Michigan ($41,420), the 31% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates are gaining traction in their careers rather than plateauing early.

The debt picture provides some cushion for this slower start. At $26,377, borrowing sits well below the 75th percentile nationally, meaning most students aren't taking on crushing debt loads even if their starting salaries are modest. The 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, though it means graduates will feel the payments during those first couple years when earnings are weakest. Among Michigan's 23 programs, Grand Valley lands squarely in the middle—neither a standout value nor a financial risk.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether your child can weather two to three years of below-average earnings while building experience. If they're willing to grind through entry-level work—and the strong earnings growth suggests many do exactly that—this becomes a reasonable path. But if they need strong starting salaries immediately after graduation, Michigan State or Eastern Michigan offer meaningfully higher day-one earning power.