Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Belhaven University

Starting salaries around $40,000 may sound reasonable for a communications degree, but Belhaven's program carries an estimated $25,832 in debt—a figure that would take considerable discipline to pay off on that income. Based on similar private institutions nationally, that debt load translates to monthly payments of roughly $290 for ten years, eating up a meaningful chunk of a $3,300 monthly paycheck before taxes. For context, Mississippi's relatively low cost of living helps, but it doesn't eliminate the squeeze that comes from servicing this level of debt on entry-level PR or advertising salaries.

The bigger concern is what these estimates don't tell you. With only four schools in Mississippi offering this program and none reporting actual outcomes data, you're navigating with limited visibility. The national figures suggest this field is fairly consistent across schools—the 75th percentile nationally is only about $2,500 higher than the median—meaning exceptional performance doesn't dramatically change the earnings picture. Communications degrees typically require building experience through internships and entry-level positions before salaries meaningfully increase.

Given the uncertainty around Belhaven's specific outcomes and the modest debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65, this program only makes sense if your child has strong Mississippi ties or specific reasons to attend this institution. Otherwise, comparing actual reported outcomes from larger in-state public universities would provide more concrete data to evaluate whether this investment pays off.