Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Roosevelt University

Roosevelt's communications program carries an estimated $26,000 in debt—slightly above both state and national medians—while peer programs in Illinois suggest first-year earnings around $41,000. That debt load represents about 63% of estimated first-year income, which sits in workable territory but leaves little margin for error in a field where entry-level salaries tend to plateau quickly.

The estimated figures here align almost exactly with Illinois state medians for this field, placing the program squarely in the middle of the pack. However, Roosevelt's 94% admission rate and substantial Pell population (46%) suggest this school serves students who might face additional financial constraints. When top Illinois programs like North Central and U of I produce graduates earning $48,000+, the $7,000 annual gap compounds quickly—that's potentially $35,000 in lost earnings over five years, enough to more than offset any tuition savings.

The core challenge: communications degrees at any school require strong networking and internship opportunities to translate into decent-paying jobs, and Chicago offers those connections. Whether Roosevelt provides adequate access to that ecosystem—internship pipelines, employer relationships, portfolio development—will likely determine if graduates beat or fall short of the $41,000 estimate. That's the critical question parents should press the school on directly, particularly given the estimated debt burden.