Location: Wingate, NC•In-State Tuition: $40,196•Admission Rate: 85%•Avg SAT: 1083
Median Earnings (1yr)
$40,438
56th percentile
60th percentile in North Carolina
Median Debt
$25,400
3% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.63 ManageableSample: 33 graduates

Analysis

Wingate's communications program costs more than the typical North Carolina school but delivers results that justify the premium. At $25,400 in median debt, graduates borrow about $3,000 more than peers at other NC programs, yet they earn $50,211 four years out—ranking in the 60th percentile statewide and outearning the state median by roughly $12,000. That puts them ahead of programs at larger schools like Appalachian State and UNC Charlotte.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 means graduates owe about seven months of their first-year salary, which is manageable territory for communications majors. More encouraging is the 24% earnings growth from year one to year four, suggesting graduates are advancing rather than plateauing early. First-year earnings of $40,438 already exceed both state and national medians for this field.

For families weighing the cost of a private university against larger public alternatives, Wingate appears to deliver competitive outcomes. The higher borrowing buys access to stronger earning potential in a field where income varies widely by program. If your student is set on communications and comfortable with the debt level, this program performs solidly within North Carolina's landscape.

Where Wingate University Stands

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

Wingate UniversityOther public relations, advertising, and applied communication programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Wingate University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Wingate University earns $40k — 56th percentile among public relations, advertising, and applied communication bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Wingate University$40,438$50,211+24%
University of San Francisco$37,856$86,425+128%
American University$50,026$75,287+50%
Syracuse University$54,934$71,592+30%
Appalachian State University$36,559$45,914+26%

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
Wingate UniversityWingate$40,196$40,438$50,211$25,4000.63
Meredith CollegeRaleigh$43,936$40,762—$27,0000.66
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 Wingate University, approximately 41% 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 33 graduates with reported earnings and 38 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.