Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

The stark contrast tells the story here: while peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $40,000, similar programs in Puerto Rico report median earnings of just $13,085—less than a third of the national figure. This gap reflects Puerto Rico's fundamentally different economic reality, where even professional communications roles command far lower salaries than stateside positions. If your child plans to work in Puerto Rico after graduation, that national earnings estimate of $39,794 is likely irrelevant.

The estimated debt load of $25,832 compounds this challenge. In a mainland market, that might represent about eight months of gross income. But if actual outcomes resemble other PR communications programs, graduates could be looking at debt that equals two years of earnings—a substantially heavier burden. The school serves primarily Pell-eligible students (82%), many of whom likely carry this debt because they lack family resources to cover costs.

Before committing, investigate where this program's actual graduates work and what they earn. If your child intends to stay in Puerto Rico, understand that communications and PR salaries may start in the low-to-mid teens rather than the estimated $40,000. If they're planning to relocate to the mainland for work, then these estimated national figures become more relevant—but you'd want to weigh whether this specific program provides the connections and credentials that facilitate that transition successfully.