Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Concordia University-Nebraska

This program's estimated $25,832 in debt sits slightly above what similar communications programs nationally report, while first-year earnings figures based on peer institutions suggest around $39,794—creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That's manageable compared to many fields, but here's the catch: the one Nebraska school with actual reported outcomes, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, shows communications graduates earning about $2,400 more annually. For a competitive field where entry-level salaries cluster tightly, that gap matters when you're making loan payments.

The real uncertainty here is whether Concordia's program performs closer to national norms or matches UNL's stronger showing. Communications is a field where internships, portfolio work, and professional networks heavily influence outcomes—factors that vary significantly between programs but don't show up in these estimates. The school's 90% admission rate and lower Pell enrollment suggest a different student profile than UNL, which could cut either way on earnings depending on the program's industry connections in Omaha and Lincoln media markets.

With only estimates available, treat this as a starting point rather than a guarantee. Before committing, ask Concordia directly about graduate placement rates, typical employers, and what percentage of students secure relevant internships. The estimated numbers suggest reasonable—not exceptional—returns, but actual outcomes for this specific program remain unclear.