Location: Lexington, KY•In-State Tuition: $13,212•Out-of-State Tuition: $33,406•Admission Rate: 92%•Avg SAT: 1213
Median Earnings (1yr)
$45,275
86th percentile
60th percentile in Kentucky
Median Debt
$24,625
At national median
D/E Ratio: 0.54 ManageableSample: 166 graduates

Analysis

University of Kentucky's communications program graduates earn $45,275 in their first year—about $14,000 more than the national median and nearly $9,000 above Kentucky's state median. That 86th percentile national ranking isn't just statistical noise: it reflects a program that's successfully leveraging UK's flagship status and industry connections to get students into better-paying entry-level positions. Among Kentucky programs, UK leads by a significant margin, outpacing even Northern Kentucky University by more than $3,000.

The financial picture looks manageable. With median debt of $24,625 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54, graduates typically owe about half their first-year salary—reasonable territory for a communications degree. Earnings climb to $51,500 by year four, showing 14% growth that suggests graduates are gaining traction in their careers rather than plateauing quickly.

For parents concerned about return on investment in a creative field, this program delivers tangible advantages. The combination of above-average starting salaries, controlled debt levels, and consistent earnings growth makes UK's communications program a solid choice—particularly for in-state students paying lower tuition. You're not gambling on uncertain outcomes here; the data shows UK graduates consistently out-earn their peers both statewide and nationally.

Where University of Kentucky Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all public relations, advertising, and applied communication bachelors's programs nationally

University of KentuckyOther public relations, advertising, and applied communication programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Kentucky graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Kentucky earns $45k — 86th percentile among public relations, advertising, and applied communication bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Kentucky$45,275$51,501+14%
Western Kentucky University$35,534$46,295+30%
Northern Kentucky University$41,842$45,457+9%
Eastern Kentucky University$34,920$42,222+21%
Murray State University$38,054$40,465+6%

Compare to Similar Programs in Kentucky

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kentucky (10 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of KentuckyLexington$13,212$45,275$51,501$24,6250.54
Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights$10,896$41,842$45,457$24,2250.58
Murray State UniversityMurray$9,708$38,054$40,465$22,2500.58
Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green$11,436$35,534$46,295$25,0000.70
Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond$10,130$34,920$42,222$25,1920.72
Morehead State UniversityMorehead$9,838$27,737$37,903$24,0000.87
National Median—$39,794—$24,6250.62

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with public relations, advertising, and applied communication graduates

Advertising and Promotions Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Public Relations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraising Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Technical Writers

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

$91,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Editors

Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.

$75,260/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Public Relations Specialists

Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.

$69,780/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraisers

Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.

$66,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Specialists

Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.

$65,850/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Health Education Specialists

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Use data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May link health systems, health providers, insurers, and patients to address individual and population health needs. May serve as resource to assist individuals, other health professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

$63,000/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Kentucky, approximately 22% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 166 graduates with reported earnings and 177 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.