Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Hannibal-LaGrange University

Comparable communications programs in Missouri suggest first-year earnings around $38,000 against estimated debt of $23,250—a manageable 0.61 ratio that sits comfortably below the 1:1 threshold financial advisors typically recommend. The debt figure is slightly lower than Missouri's median for similar programs ($24,164), which helps offset the fact that earnings estimates fall at the lower end of the state's range. Webster and several public universities in Missouri report outcomes in the low $40,000s for their graduates, suggesting there may be stronger options within the state for this field.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With too few graduates for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes, you're relying entirely on how other Missouri communications programs perform rather than Hannibal-LaGrange's specific track record with employers. This matters in fields like public relations where internship networks, alumni connections, and proximity to media markets can significantly affect early career outcomes. The school's location in a small river town over two hours from St. Louis or Kansas City may limit access to the agencies and corporate communications departments where these careers typically launch.

The debt-to-earnings picture based on peer programs suggests this wouldn't be a crushing financial burden if your student actually achieves those typical Missouri outcomes. But before committing, you need to understand whether Hannibal-LaGrange's specific program has the industry connections and placement success to deliver similar results—information the federal data simply can't provide for this particular cohort.