Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Washington & Jefferson College

Washington & Jefferson's communications program sits squarely in the middle of Pennsylvania's offerings, with estimated first-year earnings around $36,600—typical for the state but trailing the national median by about $3,000. Based on comparable programs in Pennsylvania, graduates would likely carry $26,500 in debt, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72. That's manageable in absolute terms, though communications majors at Temple or Duquesne appear to start $3,000-$5,000 higher, which compounds over time.

The challenge here is visibility. Because this program's actual outcomes aren't reported (likely due to small class sizes), you're making decisions based on what similar Pennsylvania programs produce—not what W&J's specific network, curriculum, or regional employer relationships deliver. For a field where your first job often comes through internships and connections, that local context matters considerably. Communications is also notoriously variable: some graduates land $45,000 agency jobs immediately, while others piece together freelance work at $30,000.

If your child is set on W&J for fit or other programs, this major won't derail their finances. But if communications is the priority, Temple's reported outcomes and urban location offer more concrete evidence of what to expect. Ask W&J directly about recent graduate placements and whether their Pittsburgh-area connections justify choosing them over programs with clearer track records.