Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at National University

National University's communications graduates are earning $50,070 within a year of completing their degree—roughly $10,000 more than typical graduates from this program in California and nearly $8,000 above USC's outcomes. In a field where median first-year earnings hover around $40,000, these results place National in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile statewide. That's a significant advantage for students entering an industry known for modest entry-level salaries.

The debt picture strengthens the case: at $30,622, it's higher than the state median but still manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61. Graduates are earning enough to comfortably service their loans while building careers in PR, advertising, or corporate communications. For context, many California programs saddle students with similar debt while delivering far lower earnings.

The major caveat here is sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, a few high earners could be skewing the numbers upward. But even accounting for statistical noise, National appears to be placing students effectively in San Diego's growing tech and biotech sectors, where communications roles command premium salaries. If your child thrives in flexible, online-heavy programs and you're comfortable with modest statistical uncertainty, this program offers strong financial prospects compared to alternatives.