Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Marquette University

Marquette's communications program starts modestly but finishes strong—graduates earn $40,583 in year one, slightly below Wisconsin's state median of $43,311, but see exceptional 40% earnings growth to reach $56,772 by year four. That trajectory matters more than the initial placement, especially when paired with a debt load of $25,000 that's nearly identical to both state and national averages. The 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, though that 40th percentile ranking among Wisconsin programs suggests this isn't the state's strongest option for communications graduates seeking immediate earning power.

The real question is whether that earnings acceleration justifies attending Marquette over alternatives. While the program performs above the national median, it trails UW-Oshkosh graduates by about $5,500 in first-year earnings—a gap that matters for in-state students paying significantly less at a public institution. Marquette's value case rests on that mid-career momentum and the broader network advantages of a private university in Milwaukee's media market.

For families comfortable with the debt and patient about early-career earnings, this program delivers reasonable outcomes. But if your student needs higher immediate income to manage loans or is cost-sensitive about private tuition, Wisconsin's public options may offer better value despite Marquette's strong four-year earnings.