Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Huntington University

Is $27,000 in debt manageable on communications industry wages? Based on comparable programs across Indiana, graduates here face first-year earnings around $39,000—right at the state median for communications degrees. That puts the debt burden at roughly 70% of first-year income, which falls into workable territory but leaves little cushion. For context, similar private institutions in Indiana report outcomes ranging from $37,000 to over $48,000, suggesting the field itself offers steady but not spectacular starting salaries.

The challenge lies in what communications careers actually pay early on. Public relations and advertising roles notoriously start modest, and breaking $40,000 in year one is common but not guaranteed, especially outside major metro areas. Peer programs in Indiana suggest this pattern holds stately: most grads cluster in that $36,000-$40,000 range regardless of which school they attended. The $27,000 debt load won't crush your child financially, but it won't feel comfortable either on entry-level agency or corporate communications pay.

Before committing, recognize these are estimates drawn from similar Indiana programs, not actual Huntington outcomes. Visit campus and ask directly: Where do their communications grads actually land jobs, and what do those positions pay? If Huntington's network connects students to Indianapolis agencies or Chicago-area firms where salaries run higher, the investment makes more sense. If most grads stay local in smaller Indiana markets, that $39,000 estimate might prove optimistic.