Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at North Carolina A & T State University

Based on comparable communications programs across North Carolina, first-year earnings around $38,000 against estimated debt of $23,342 creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61—well within the threshold most financial advisors recommend staying under. For a school where half the students receive Pell grants, that debt load is particularly important, and it compares favorably to the national median of nearly $25,000 for this degree.

The estimated earnings align exactly with North Carolina's state median for these programs, though they trail slightly behind the national figure of about $40,000. What matters more is the comparison to NC peer schools: similar programs at Meredith and Wingate show earnings in the low $40s, while Appalachian State and Campbell report lower figures. The real challenge is that we're working with estimates here—the actual graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to publish specific outcomes for this program.

For families considering this investment, the projected debt burden appears reasonable, but understand you're making this decision with limited transparency about how NC A&T's specific graduates fare. The program sits in the middle of the state pack based on available comparisons, suggesting neither standout value nor significant risk, but the lack of actual data means you're placing trust in institutional reputation rather than verified outcomes.