Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at University of Portland

University of Portland graduates in this field face a rocky start—$35,605 in year one is below both state and national medians—but they catch up quickly. By year four, earnings jump to $61,776, a 74% increase that suggests either strong alumni networks kicking in or graduates gaining traction in competitive Portland media markets. Among Oregon's five programs, this ranks squarely in the middle, trailing University of Oregon's stronger $42,159 starting point but outpacing the field long-term.

The $20,828 debt load is actually lighter than typical for this major (below both state and national medians), making the challenging first year more manageable. That 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe about seven months of first-year salary—not ideal, but survivable, especially given the trajectory. The real question is whether your family can handle those lean early years while waiting for the growth curve to materialize.

If your student has family support to weather lower starting pay or connections in Portland's creative economy, this program offers a reasonable path forward. Without that cushion, the below-average starting salary combined with moderate sample size should prompt serious conversations about backup plans and realistic budgeting for those first two years out of school.