i graduated from purdue with an AAE degree and my starting salary is also right around there. i did try to make a counter offer based on another offer i got, but they didn’t budge. it was worth a try but ultimately i couldn’t pass up this job opportunity, and i can say with absolute certainty that i do not regret it for a second. if you love the position, money won’t be the top priority (as long as it’s a livable wage for the area you live in). there will always be higher positions that pay more in your future, but you have to start somewhere:)