Communication and Media Studies at Mercyhurst University

Mercyhurst's communication program starts below what many parents would hope for—$32,729 in year one—but outperforms most other Pennsylvania schools at this price point. While it ranks in the 37th percentile nationally, it hits the 60th percentile among PA programs, meaning it beats three out of five in-state alternatives. With $26,000 in debt, graduates owe less than 80 cents for every dollar earned, which keeps monthly payments manageable even during that challenging first year.

The 39% earnings jump to $45,516 by year four suggests graduates find their footing, though you'll notice the gap between Mercyhurst and Pennsylvania's elite programs (Penn and Villanova graduates earn over $50,000 right away). That said, those schools come with steeper costs and admission hurdles. For a family considering accessible Pennsylvania options, Mercyhurst performs reasonably compared to schools like Washington & Jefferson or Saint Joseph's.

The catch here is sample size—fewer than 30 recent graduates reported data, so these numbers could swing considerably year to year. If your student is set on communications and needs to stay in Pennsylvania, this isn't a red flag program, but it's worth asking Mercyhurst about internship pipelines and where recent grads actually landed jobs. The debt level won't sink them, but they'll need that year-four salary bump to materialize.