Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Seton Hall University

Seton Hall's communications program graduates earn slightly above the median for this field—both nationally and in New Jersey—but the debt picture tells a more complicated story. At $19,439, graduates leave with about 21% less debt than typical communications majors nationwide, which initially sounds promising. However, this program ranks in the 95th percentile for debt nationally, meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with even more borrowing. That's not exactly a badge of honor when the field itself tends toward lower earnings.

The fundamentals here are straightforward: first-year earnings of $40,602 cover the debt load comfortably (0.48 ratio), and graduates outpace their peers at the state's other communications programs. For a field where breaking in often means starting at modest salaries, these numbers represent a reasonable launch point. The moderate sample size suggests consistent outcomes rather than a few outliers driving the data.

The real question is whether $80,000+ in total costs (debt plus family contributions at a private university) makes sense for earnings that sit just above $40,000. Communications graduates at nearby Rowan earn $5,500 less annually but likely pay far less in tuition. If your child has substantial financial aid bringing total costs down significantly, Seton Hall positions them competitively. Without generous aid, the public alternatives deserve serious consideration even though this program performs slightly better in year-one earnings.