Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at St Bonaventure University

When peer programs in New York produce first-year earnings around $39,000 against $25,000 in debt, you're looking at a workable ratio—but the communications field doesn't reward geography or institution equally. Syracuse grads in this major earn $55,000 out of the gate, while SUNY Plattsburgh grads make $40,000. St. Bonaventure's small communication program lacks publicly reported outcomes, so we're relying on state averages that may or may not reflect what happens to students from a rural campus without major media markets nearby.

The debt burden here appears manageable relative to typical earnings for communications majors, sitting right at the state median. But consider what you're buying: an 82% acceptance rate school charging private tuition for outcomes that—based on comparable New York programs—land squarely in the middle of the pack. The top communications programs in the state produce 40-50% higher earnings, and even the public option at Plattsburgh edges ahead.

For a field where internships and alumni networks drive early career success, location matters enormously. If your child thrives in smaller settings and can secure strong internships independently, this could work. But if proximity to media centers and established industry pipelines is important, you're paying private school prices for outcomes that peer data suggests are merely adequate.