Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Black Hills State University

Borrowing an estimated $23,000 to earn around $40,000 in your first year—figures drawn from comparable communications programs nationwide—produces a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. That's better than what many liberal arts graduates face, though it's worth noting that Black Hills State's actual outcomes remain unknown due to small graduate cohorts. The only other PR program in South Dakota, at South Dakota State, reports identical first-year earnings of about $40,000, suggesting these national estimates may reasonably reflect regional realities.

The real question is whether communications careers justify this investment in a rural market like Spearfish. First-year earnings around $40,000 sit at the national median for this field, meaning half of programs produce better outcomes and half produce worse. Communications work typically clusters in larger metros where agencies and corporate marketing departments operate, which could mean graduates relocate or settle for limited local opportunities. The debt load is slightly below the national median for this major, offering some cushion if career launch proves slower than expected.

Your child would be betting on national benchmarks holding true for a program without reported data. If they're drawn to strategic communication and willing to be geographically flexible after graduation, the debt burden won't be crushing. But if they're hoping to build a PR career while staying in western South Dakota, they should investigate alumni outcomes directly with the department before committing.