Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Howard University

Howard's communications program lands graduates at $39,120 their first year—roughly $5,500 below what other DC programs deliver and slightly under the national median. In a city where American University's similar program launches graduates at $50,000, this 40th percentile ranking among DC schools signals a significant earnings gap in a market where connections and institutional reputation matter considerably.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $26,000, it's close to the national median and translates to a manageable 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates owe about eight months of salary, which is reasonable for a communications degree. For families paying for an HBCU education at a selective institution (35% admission rate), the question becomes whether Howard's network and cultural value justify earning $10,000 less annually than peers at American.

The moderate sample size suggests stable data, but parents should recognize that communications careers often reward hustle and networking more than the diploma itself. If your child is choosing Howard for its community and legacy—factors that matter deeply in this field—the debt is manageable enough to make that choice viable. If maximizing first-year earnings in DC is the priority, the numbers suggest looking elsewhere.