Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Ohio Media School-Cincinnati

That $14,229 first-year salary should stop you in your tracks. While graduates carry relatively modest debt of $9,500, earning barely above minimum wage after completing a certificate program raises serious questions about immediate employment outcomes. The small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—means these numbers could shift dramatically, but what we see here is troubling: this program ranks in just the 10th percentile nationally for earnings, meaning 90% of similar programs produce better financial results.

Within Ohio, the picture is slightly less dire but still concerning. This program sits at the 40th percentile statewide, suggesting other Cincinnati-area certificate programs from the same institution report higher earnings (around $15,700). However, even those benchmarks translate to roughly $7.50/hour assuming full-time work—barely sustainable wages. The 68% Pell Grant rate indicates this school primarily serves students who can least afford a credential that doesn't immediately boost earnings.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 looks manageable on paper, but that's only because both numbers are so low. Taking on $9,500 in debt to earn $14,000 annually means your child would struggle to make standard loan payments while covering basic living expenses. Unless this certificate serves as a stepping stone to additional education or specific industry connections you've verified, the financial return simply doesn't justify the investment based on available data.