U.S. median for this major: $54,283.
College Scorecard field of study; 19 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 45% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $52,170. College Scorecard.
Ottawa University-Surprise Communications: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Communications nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Ottawa University-Surprise's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $28,636 | $121,989 | 5.4 years |
| $30–48k | $30,096 | $128,209 | 5.6 years |
| $48–75k | $31,252 | $133,134 | 5.8 years |
| $75–110k | $35,696 | $152,065 | 6.7 years |
| $110k+ | $35,922 | $153,028 | 6.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (17% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Communications graduates 4 years after graduating ($59,445) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in AZ (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $22,784 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Communications at Arizona colleges
Every Arizona college we cover that reports Communications graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Arizona | $72,758 | $19,750 | $16,674 | 68% |
| 2 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | $61,193 | $22,500 | $14,967 | 68% |
| 3 | Ottawa University-Surprise | $59,445 | $27,000 | $33,393 | 18% |
| 4 | Northern Arizona University | $52,957 | $19,375 | $14,158 | 61% |
1 more Arizona college offers Communications but has too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Communications graduates
Public relations specialist
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +1.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Fundraisers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Editors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -1.1% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Ottawa University-Surprise, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Ottawa University-Surprise
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 18% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $55,552
- Full cost breakdown · all 18 majors · overview
Ottawa University-Surprise Communications questions
How much do Ottawa University-Surprise Communications graduates earn?
Communications graduates of Ottawa University-Surprise earn a median $59,445 four years after graduating and $33,465 one year after. The U.S. median for Communications graduates across 639 colleges is $54,283.
How much debt do Ottawa University-Surprise Communications graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Communications graduates of Ottawa University-Surprise is $27,000, about 45% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,000.
Is Ottawa University-Surprise a good school for Communications in Arizona?
On pay, Communications graduates of Ottawa University-Surprise earn $59,445 four years out, $1,748 below the median for the same major across 5 Arizona colleges ($61,193) and $5,162 above the U.S. median ($54,283). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Ottawa University-Surprise rank for Communications in Arizona?
Of 4 Arizona colleges reporting Communications graduate earnings, Ottawa University-Surprise ranks 3rd. The highest is University of Arizona at $72,758.
What jobs do Communications graduates get?
A common career is public relations specialist, with a median wage of $70,490 in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ area and $74,750 nationally. Others include fundraisers and editors.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Ottawa University-Surprise Communications: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/ottawa-university-surprise/majors/communications (College Scorecard and BLS data).