Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Oklahoma Christian University

The estimated $25,832 debt load here exceeds what similar communications programs in Oklahoma typically produce—state peers show a median of $21,500. That additional borrowing matters when first-year earnings from comparable Oklahoma programs cluster around $36,388, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71. While manageable, it's notably higher than the more favorable ratios you'd find at Oklahoma's flagship programs.

The earnings picture tells an important story about variation within the state. University of Oklahoma-Norman's communications graduates earn roughly $45,759 their first year—nearly $10,000 more than what similar programs at Oklahoma Christian suggest. Oklahoma State and University of Central Oklahoma produce outcomes closer to what you'd expect here, all hovering near that $36,388 mark. Given Oklahoma Christian's 97% admission rate and below-average SAT scores, this positioning makes sense, but it raises the question of whether the private school premium justifies the extra debt.

For an anxious parent, the math is straightforward: you're looking at about nine months of first-year salary to cover estimated debt—not catastrophic, but also not a clear financial win. If your child has admission to OU and the net costs are comparable after aid, the earnings gap would quickly offset any initial savings. This becomes a worthwhile investment primarily if Oklahoma Christian offers something specific your family values—like its faith-based mission—that offsets the financial trade-off.