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

University of Scranton communications graduates start at below-average salaries but see remarkable income growth, jumping 56% to $55,313 within four years—well above both national and Pennsylvania medians by that point. While first-year earnings of $35,568 trail the national average by roughly $4,200 and rank at just the 24th percentile nationally, this program appears designed for career development rather than immediate payoff. The debt load of $26,000 is manageable relative to that trajectory, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 that improves significantly as graduates gain experience.

Within Pennsylvania's competitive communications market, this program sits exactly at the state median for both earnings and debt. Temple and Duquesne lead with stronger starting salaries, but Scranton's four-year outcomes suggest graduates catch up as they establish themselves professionally. The trajectory matters here: communications careers often require building networks and experience before salaries accelerate, and this data shows Scranton graduates successfully navigate that path.

For families comfortable with modest starting salaries in exchange for strong mid-career potential, this represents a reasonable investment. The initial earnings gap requires patience and possibly financial support during those first years, but the growth pattern indicates graduates develop marketable skills that translate into competitive salaries relatively quickly.