Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Morehead State University

Morehead State's communications program starts graduates at just $27,737—roughly $9,000 below Kentucky's median and nearly $12,000 below the national average for this major. That's bottom-5th-percentile performance nationally, meaning 95% of similar programs produce better initial outcomes. While earnings do climb 37% to reach $37,903 by year four, graduates are still trailing the typical Kentucky communications program and barely breaking into the national average range.

The debt load of $24,000 isn't unreasonable by national standards, but when paired with these earnings, it creates a challenging first year financially. That 0.87 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe nearly a full year's salary, and the starting wage is barely above what many entry-level jobs pay regardless of degree. For context, University of Kentucky's communications graduates start at $45,275—a $17,500 difference that would take years to close even with Morehead's solid growth trajectory.

The reality is that communications degrees depend heavily on internships, networking, and geographic mobility to deliver value. If your student can secure strong opportunities while at Morehead and is willing to relocate for work, the affordable debt keeps this manageable. But if they're planning to stay in eastern Kentucky and hoping the degree alone opens doors, these numbers suggest they'll struggle initially. Consider whether spending similar money at UK or Northern Kentucky might be worth the investment for a stronger launch.