Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Loras College

Loras College's communications program sits in an awkward middle position among Iowa schools—it beats the national average but trails most in-state alternatives, including the state's public universities. At $40,938 first-year, graduates earn slightly above the $39,794 national median, but they're making about $1,300 less than peers who attend the University of Iowa or Iowa State. That gap matters when you're comparing tuition costs between a private college and in-state public options.

The debt load of $26,581 is reasonable but not exceptional—it's higher than what you'd carry from most Iowa public schools. The 20% earnings growth to $49,138 by year four shows solid progression, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 suggests graduates can manage their payments without overwhelming financial stress. Still, the 40th percentile ranking among Iowa programs indicates this isn't a standout choice if your child is deciding between multiple in-state acceptances.

The major caveat here is the small sample size, which makes these numbers less reliable than data from larger programs. If your child has strong ties to Loras or values its smaller environment, the financial picture isn't alarming. But if you're simply comparing outcomes, Iowa's public universities offer similar or better earnings potential at a lower cost—a combination that's hard to beat for an anxious parent watching the bottom line.