Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at York College of Pennsylvania

York College's communications program starts notably below the national median—graduates earn about $3,200 less in their first year than the typical program nationally. Within Pennsylvania, it sits right at the state median, landing in the 40th percentile among 29 programs. Temple and Duquesne grads are earning roughly $4,000-5,000 more right out of the gate. However, the strong 42% earnings growth to $51,838 by year four suggests York grads are catching up as they establish themselves in the field.

The debt load of $25,724 is manageable—slightly above the national median but below Pennsylvania's average for this program. That 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than their first-year salary, which is reasonable for a communications degree. The highly accessible admissions (94% acceptance rate) mean most students who want this program can get in, though they should understand they're not starting with the salary advantages of Temple or Duquesne grads.

One important caveat: the sample size here is small (under 30 graduates), so these numbers could shift significantly year to year. For families comfortable with this uncertainty and prioritizing accessibility and reasonable debt, York delivers solid mid-career outcomes even if the starting salary lags. For students who can gain admission to Temple or similar programs, the higher starting earnings might justify exploring those options first.