Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at North Dakota State University-Main Campus

North Dakota State's communications program starts modestly but shows promising momentum, with earnings jumping 26% to nearly $50,000 by year four. While first-year earnings of $39,223 trail the national median slightly, graduates who stick with the field see meaningful salary growth—reaching $49,456 after four years puts them well above typical early-career outcomes for communications majors.

The debt picture is reasonable at $25,000, creating a manageable 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates can handle. Among the two North Dakota schools offering this program, NDSU performs at the 60th percentile for earnings, making it the stronger in-state option. The moderate sample size suggests steady program enrollment, though parents should recognize that communications careers often require flexibility about location—Fargo's smaller media market means many graduates likely need to relocate for higher-paying positions.

The takeaway: This program won't catapult your child into a high-paying first job, but the strong earnings trajectory suggests graduates are building viable careers. If your child is committed to communications and prefers staying in-state for tuition savings, NDSU offers solid preparation at a manageable cost. Just be prepared for the possibility of an eventual move to larger markets where media and PR roles are more abundant.