Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Wheeling University

This program comes with considerable uncertainty—both earnings and debt figures are estimates drawn from national benchmarks rather than outcomes tracked for Wheeling's own graduates. That matters because the underlying numbers aren't particularly strong. Based on comparable communications programs nationwide, first-year earnings around $39,800 would barely edge above what many jobs require without a four-year degree, while debt approaching $26,000 creates a payment obligation of roughly $290 monthly for a decade.

The 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in manageable territory technically, but there's little margin for error. Communications jobs in West Virginia—a state with limited media markets and corporate headquarters—often pay below national averages, which means even these modest estimates could prove optimistic. With only four programs statewide and none reporting actual data publicly, it's difficult to gauge whether Wheeling's network and placement support justify the investment versus starting with entry-level work and building from there.

For families considering this path, the lack of program-specific data should prompt direct questions to Wheeling: What percentage of recent graduates are employed in their field? What's the actual salary range for alumni? Where do graduates end up working? Without verifiable outcomes from this particular program, you're essentially betting that Wheeling's results match the national median—a leap of faith that requires more supporting evidence than estimates can provide.