Location: Raleigh, NC•In-State Tuition: $43,936•Admission Rate: 75%•Avg SAT: 1224
Median Earnings (1yr)
$40,762
59th percentile
60th percentile in North Carolina
Median Debt
$27,000
10% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.66 ManageableSample: 21 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Meredith's communications program posts slightly above-average earnings—beating the North Carolina median by $2,500 and landing in the 60th percentile statewide—while keeping debt remarkably low at $27,000 (5th percentile nationally). That debt level is notable: it's only about $2,000 above the typical North Carolina debt load, despite Meredith being a private college. The 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates carry roughly eight months of their first-year salary in debt, a manageable burden that shouldn't derail other financial goals.

The catch here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in the reporting period. That means these numbers could shift significantly in either direction with a different cohort. The program's performance relative to competitors seems solid (essentially tied with Wingate and ahead of UNC Charlotte), but small samples can create misleading comparisons. What's more reliable is that Meredith generally attracts a decent student body (1224 SAT average) and serves a meaningful portion of lower-income students (33% on Pell grants).

For an in-state student choosing between North Carolina communications programs, this represents a reasonable middle-ground option—not the highest earnings, but respectable outcomes without the debt load that often comes with private college tuition. Just recognize you're making decisions based on limited graduate data.

Where Meredith College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all public relations, advertising, and applied communication bachelors's programs nationally

Meredith CollegeOther public relations, advertising, and applied communication programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Meredith College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Meredith College earns $41k — 59th percentile among public relations, advertising, and applied communication bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelors's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (12 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Meredith CollegeRaleigh$43,936$40,762—$27,0000.66
Wingate UniversityWingate$40,196$40,438$50,211$25,4000.63
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte$7,214$38,190—$19,5000.51
Appalachian State UniversityBoone$7,541$36,559$45,914$21,5000.59
Campbell UniversityBuies Creek$40,410$31,953—$22,2500.70
National Median—$39,794—$24,6250.62

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with public relations, advertising, and applied communication graduates

Advertising and Promotions Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Public Relations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraising Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Technical Writers

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

$91,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Editors

Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.

$75,260/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Public Relations Specialists

Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.

$69,780/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraisers

Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.

$66,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Specialists

Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.

$65,850/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Health Education Specialists

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Use data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May link health systems, health providers, insurers, and patients to address individual and population health needs. May serve as resource to assist individuals, other health professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

$63,000/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Meredith College, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 21 graduates with reported earnings and 24 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.