Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Husson University

Here's a tricky situation: Husson's Public Relations program graduates earn just $32,714 in their first year—roughly $7,000 below the national median for this field. But before dismissing it, consider that among Maine's three programs in this area, these earnings actually place it at the 60th percentile. The local market simply pays less for communications work than most of the country.

The $27,000 debt load is relatively manageable, ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of comparable programs leave students with more debt). That produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83, which means graduates would dedicate less than a year's salary to paying off loans—a reasonable burden. Earnings do grow to nearly $35,000 by year four, though that's still modest by national standards.

The major caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly. If your child plans to stay in Maine after graduation, this program's economics make more sense than the national comparison suggests. If they're targeting communications jobs in Boston or other higher-paying markets, they'll be competing with graduates from programs whose alumni earn 25-30% more right out of the gate. The low debt is this program's strongest selling point—it won't bury your child financially even if they enter a modestly-paying field.