Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Northwest Nazarene University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 suggests this program could pencil out financially, though the figures deserve scrutiny. With earnings and debt both estimated from national peer programs, we're looking at roughly $39,800 in first-year income against $25,800 in debt—a manageable 65 cents of debt for every dollar earned. That's workable, especially compared to many humanities and social science degrees that often breach the 1.0 threshold.

The challenge is Idaho's communications job market. The University of Idaho reports first-year earnings of $38,136 for this field—slightly below the national median—suggesting the state may not offer premium opportunities for PR and advertising graduates. Northwest Nazarene's estimated debt also tracks slightly above the state median, though it's competitive with national figures. For a private Christian university with a 63% admission rate, these numbers don't raise immediate red flags, but they don't offer much cushion either.

The practical reality: your child would likely need to be strategic about job hunting, possibly looking beyond Idaho's borders or targeting larger metropolitan areas where communications roles concentrate. If they're drawn to this field and value the faith-based environment, the estimated numbers suggest it's viable—but not a financial slam dunk. Strong internship networking during college would matter significantly for landing that crucial first position.