Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

17,162 students earn a public relations, advertising, and applied communication credential each year across 435 US colleges. Earnings below are the median for each school's graduates one and five years after finishing; debt is the median federal loan balance at completion.

Typical earnings, 1 year out: $40,127
Typical earnings, 5 years out: $58,670

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Highest earnings Most graduates

Bachelor's programs — top 100 of 370 colleges by graduate earnings

CollegeGrads / yearEarnings 1 yearEarnings 5 yearsDebt

1Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, New York218$54,9341 year out$83,644$26,000 2Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, Texas107$51,8281 year out$76,143$19,750 3Brigham Young UniversityProvo, Utah202$51,4361 year out$71,225$11,975 4Assumption UniversityWorcester, Massachusetts15$51,1141 year out$73,788$27,000 5Miami University-OxfordOxford, Ohio151$50,7001 year out$79,160$25,000 6Miami University-HamiltonHamilton, Ohio11$50,7001 year out$79,160$25,000 7Miami University-MiddletownMiddletown, Ohio1$50,7001 year out$79,160$25,000 8Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, Pennsylvania349$50,5871 year out$77,241$24,693 9Pennsylvania State University-World CampusUniversity Park, Pennsylvania33$50,5871 year out$77,241$24,693 10Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgMiddletown, Pennsylvania1$50,5871 year out$77,241$24,693 11Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BrandywineMedia, Pennsylvania1$50,5871 year out$77,241$24,693 12National UniversitySan Diego, California14$50,0701 year out—$30,622 13University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, California80$50,0411 year out$70,555$20,251 14American UniversityWashington, District of Columbia107$50,0261 year out$94,957$26,442 15Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceProvidence, Rhode Island11$49,0331 year out$71,201$24,500 16Johnson & Wales University-OnlineProvidence, Rhode Island2$49,0331 year out$71,201$24,500 17North Central CollegeNaperville, Illinois8$48,5491 year out$66,959$26,899 18Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMarion, Indiana6$48,2251 year out—$32,082 19Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalMarion, Indiana3$48,2251 year out—$32,082 20University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, Illinois191$48,0631 year out$75,277$23,250 21Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, Texas150$48,0531 year out$81,217$24,148 22The University of Texas at AustinAustin, Texas487$47,9721 year out$79,337$20,995 23Endicott CollegeBeverly, Massachusetts23$47,9031 year out$64,780$27,000 24Southern New Hampshire UniversityManchester, New Hampshire608$46,5201 year out$56,425$27,799 25Franklin UniversityColumbus, Ohio26$46,5181 year out$47,326$42,017 26University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkosh, Wisconsin23$46,0391 year out—$24,000 27Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, California85$45,9881 year out$75,482$26,000 28Washington State UniversityPullman, Washington262$45,8201 year out—$20,500 29University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, Oklahoma78$45,7591 year out$58,847$20,718 30University of GeorgiaAthens, Georgia298$45,3261 year out$73,502$21,787 31University of KentuckyLexington, Kentucky134$45,2751 year out$59,011$24,625 32Roger Williams UniversityBristol, Rhode Island10$45,2691 year out—$27,000 33Capital UniversityColumbus, Ohio9$45,2351 year out$48,600$27,000 34Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended EducationKirkland, Washington5$45,2091 year out$56,919—35Northwest UniversityKirkland, Washington—$45,2091 year out$56,919—36Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, Michigan444$45,1581 year out$71,448$23,899 37Suffolk UniversityBoston, Massachusetts60$44,8631 year out—$27,000 38Drake UniversityDes Moines, Iowa63$44,4921 year out$75,436$23,250 39Pace UniversityNew York, New York69$44,4851 year out$68,352$25,000 40San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, California34$44,1971 year out$69,123$17,038 41University of MiamiCoral Gables, Florida131$43,9171 year out$75,837$18,000 42Illinois State UniversityNormal, Illinois65$43,8741 year out$62,349$22,500 43University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, Iowa36$43,7551 year out$57,636$21,096 44Quinnipiac UniversityHamden, Connecticut54$43,5911 year out$73,088$23,250 45Clemson UniversityClemson, South Carolina26$43,3181 year out—$23,375 46Loyola University ChicagoChicago, Illinois119$43,3081 year out$67,395$25,000 47University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia, South Carolina183$42,9741 year out$66,664$24,250 48Iowa State UniversityAmes, Iowa80$42,5301 year out$63,153$24,750 49University of HoustonHouston, Texas158$42,4721 year out$57,785$23,800 50The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, Alabama315$42,4451 year out$64,089$25,000 51Webster UniversitySaint Louis, Missouri14$42,4211 year out$48,750—52Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green, Ohio17$42,2961 year out$59,879$22,519 53University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, Colorado411$42,2181 year out—$19,433 54University of Rhode IslandKingston, Rhode Island144$42,1811 year out$74,225$23,000 55The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, Tennessee134$42,1731 year out$62,859$21,368 56University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, Nebraska226$42,1681 year out$58,750$23,258 57University of OregonEugene, Oregon430$42,1591 year out$71,111$21,500 58University of FloridaGainesville, Florida381$42,0991 year out$72,397$17,439 59University of Florida-OnlineGainesville, Florida69$42,0991 year out$72,397$17,439 60Hofstra UniversityHempstead, New York40$42,0301 year out$72,155$24,000 61Xavier UniversityCincinnati, Ohio18$41,9581 year out$58,699$26,515 62Simpson CollegeIndianola, Iowa13$41,9251 year out——63Northwood UniversityMidland, Michigan1$41,8571 year out$61,166$20,250 64Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights, Kentucky14$41,8421 year out$52,164$24,225 65The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, Texas1$41,7031 year out$57,292$22,639 66Marymount Manhattan CollegeNew York, New York6$41,6961 year out—$25,000 67Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, Georgia170$41,4601 year out—$26,000 68Auburn UniversityAuburn, Alabama86$41,4581 year out$53,562$23,250 69Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, Michigan8$41,4201 year out$54,771$24,755 70University of Akron Main CampusAkron, Ohio32$41,3961 year out$53,071$27,000 71Wayne State UniversityDetroit, Michigan29$41,3061 year out$58,814$27,000 72University of Northwestern-St PaulSaint Paul, Minnesota8$41,2781 year out$54,276—73DePaul UniversityChicago, Illinois147$41,2341 year out$68,064$24,500 74Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania253$41,1651 year out$63,387$26,000 75Florida State UniversityTallahassee, Florida84$41,0601 year out$57,845$13,849 76Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, Texas259$41,0231 year out$58,729$21,500 77Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, Washington12$40,9761 year out$55,380$23,342 78Loras CollegeDubuque, Iowa20$40,9381 year out$58,304$26,581 79Kent State University at KentKent, Ohio52$40,8671 year out$59,496$25,000 80Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, Arkansas49$40,8121 year out—$23,250 81Meredith CollegeRaleigh, North Carolina9$40,7621 year out—$27,000 82Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, New Jersey17$40,6021 year out—$19,439 83Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, Wisconsin91$40,5831 year out$64,008$25,000 84Winthrop UniversityRock Hill, South Carolina7$40,4871 year out$48,026$27,000 85Wingate UniversityWingate, North Carolina21$40,4381 year out$60,460$25,400 86Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, Texas318$40,4111 year out$57,471$21,764 87Wilmington UniversityNew Castle, Delaware4$40,4081 year out—$32,308 88Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, Michigan65$40,3461 year out$60,505$27,000 89Oakland UniversityRochester Hills, Michigan17$40,2991 year out—$24,975 90Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfield, Missouri29$40,1781 year out$62,059$23,329 91Coe CollegeCedar Rapids, Iowa4$40,1671 year out$63,889—92State University of New York at PlattsburghPlattsburgh, New York11$40,1431 year out$57,301$24,975 93Chapman UniversityOrange, California50$40,1411 year out$75,336$22,625 94Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau, Missouri47$40,1271 year out$67,273$25,000 95University of MemphisMemphis, Tennessee45$39,8191 year out—$25,000 96South Dakota State UniversityBrookings, South Dakota22$39,7951 year out$50,823$27,000 97Columbia College ChicagoChicago, Illinois27$39,7941 year out$56,607$26,000 98Butler UniversityIndianapolis, Indiana79$39,7011 year out$54,854$26,176 99Siena Heights UniversityAdrian, Michigan14$39,6771 year out$52,812$24,900 100Montana State University BillingsBillings, Montana10$39,6661 year out—$17,653

Associate programs — 30 colleges

CollegeGrads / yearEarnings 1 yearEarnings 5 yearsDebt

1Fashion Institute of TechnologyNew York, New York350$21,0061 year out$53,051$12,000 2Sinclair Community CollegeDayton, Ohio14—1 year out——3Valencia CollegeOrlando, Florida13—1 year out——4Santa Monica CollegeSanta Monica, California12—1 year out——5Mohawk Valley Community CollegeUtica, New York10—1 year out——6Palomar CollegeSan Marcos, California9—1 year out——7El Paso Community CollegeEl Paso, Texas7—1 year out——8Vincennes UniversityVincennes, Indiana5—1 year out——9Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire, Wisconsin5—1 year out——10Broward CollegeFort Lauderdale, Florida4—1 year out——11Pennsylvania Highlands Community CollegeJohnstown, Pennsylvania4—1 year out——12Lynn UniversityBoca Raton, Florida3—1 year out——13Full Sail UniversityWinter Park, Florida3—1 year out——14Butler Community CollegeEl Dorado, Kansas3—1 year out——15Bismarck State CollegeBismarck, North Dakota3—1 year out——16West Virginia University at ParkersburgParkersburg, West Virginia3—1 year out——17Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha, Wisconsin3—1 year out——18University of Advancing TechnologyTempe, Arizona3—1 year out——19Mesa Community CollegeMesa, Arizona2—1 year out——20Butler County Community CollegeButler, Pennsylvania2—1 year out——21Del Mar CollegeCorpus Christi, Texas2—1 year out——22South Plains CollegeLevelland, Texas2—1 year out——23Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento, California1—1 year out——24Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach, California1—1 year out——25Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, Iowa1—1 year out——26University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash CollegeBlue Ash, Ohio1—1 year out——27Davis CollegeToledo, Ohio1—1 year out——28Franklin UniversityColumbus, Ohio1—1 year out——29Casper CollegeCasper, Wyoming1—1 year out——30St Cloud Technical and Community CollegeSaint Cloud, Minnesota——1 year out$39,046—

Certificate programs — 75 colleges

CollegeGrads / yearEarnings 1 yearEarnings 5 yearsDebt

1Boise State UniversityBoise, Idaho19$43,8761 year out$65,309$22,977 2University of GeorgiaAthens, Georgia91$41,1831 year out$61,055$25,000 3Illinois Media SchoolChicago, Illinois10$21,9021 year out—$15,833 4Illinois Media School-Chicago CampusChicago, Illinois3$21,9021 year out—$15,833 5Colorado Media SchoolDenver, Colorado22$15,7181 year out—$15,833 6Ohio Media School-ColumbusColumbus, Ohio20$15,7181 year out—$15,833 7Ohio Media School-Valley ViewValley View, Ohio8$15,7181 year out—$15,833 8Miami Media SchoolDoral, Florida59$14,2291 year out—$9,500 9Ohio Media School-CincinnatiNorwood, Ohio0$14,2291 year out—$9,500 10University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, Wisconsin96—1 year out——11Purdue University GlobalWest Lafayette, Indiana90—1 year out——12Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, Kentucky45—1 year out——13Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, Texas44—1 year out——14University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, Ohio41—1 year out——15Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, Ohio32—1 year out——16University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkosh, Wisconsin32—1 year out——17Rowan UniversityGlassboro, New Jersey22—1 year out——18Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, Indiana20—1 year out——19University of North DakotaGrand Forks, North Dakota20—1 year out——20University of Akron Wayne CollegeOrrville, Ohio18—1 year out——21Valencia CollegeOrlando, Florida17—1 year out——22Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfield, Missouri17—1 year out——23Sinclair Community CollegeDayton, Ohio17—1 year out——24University of KentuckyLexington, Kentucky14—1 year out—$25,000 25Santa Monica CollegeSanta Monica, California13—1 year out——26University of FloridaGainesville, Florida13—1 year out——27Palomar CollegeSan Marcos, California12—1 year out——28Santiago Canyon CollegeOrange, California12—1 year out——29University of Michigan-DearbornDearborn, Michigan11—1 year out——30Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania11—1 year out——31Canadian Valley Technology CenterEl Reno, Oklahoma10—1 year out——32Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, Arizona9—1 year out——33Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, Arkansas9—1 year out——34Broward CollegeFort Lauderdale, Florida9—1 year out——35Utah State UniversityLogan, Utah9—1 year out——36University of Missouri-St LouisSaint Louis, Missouri8—1 year out——37University of ToledoToledo, Ohio8—1 year out——38Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock, Pennsylvania8—1 year out——39Southwestern CollegeWinfield, Kansas7—1 year out——40Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis, Indiana6—1 year out——41Community College of Rhode IslandWarwick, Rhode Island6—1 year out——42University of UtahSalt Lake City, Utah6—1 year out——43The University of MontanaMissoula, Montana5—1 year out——44Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud, Minnesota4—1 year out——45University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, Missouri4—1 year out——46Utah Tech UniversitySaint George, Utah4—1 year out——47Southern Utah UniversityCedar City, Utah4—1 year out——48North Dakota State University-Main CampusFargo, North Dakota3—1 year out——49Pennsylvania State University-World CampusUniversity Park, Pennsylvania3—1 year out——50Augusta UniversityAugusta, Georgia3—1 year out——51University of IdahoMoscow, Idaho2—1 year out——52Kentucky State UniversityFrankfort, Kentucky2—1 year out——53Boston UniversityBoston, Massachusetts2—1 year out——54Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, Missouri2—1 year out——55Webster UniversitySaint Louis, Missouri2—1 year out——56Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeErie, Pennsylvania2—1 year out——57University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater, Wisconsin2—1 year out——58University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireEau Claire, Wisconsin2—1 year out——59Scottsdale Community CollegeScottsdale, Arizona1—1 year out——60De Anza CollegeCupertino, California1—1 year out——61Los Angeles Harbor CollegeWilmington, California1—1 year out——62Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver, Colorado1—1 year out——63Connecticut State Community CollegeNew Britain, Connecticut1—1 year out——64State College of Florida-Manatee-SarasotaBradenton, Florida1—1 year out——65Kansas State UniversityManhattan, Kansas1—1 year out——66Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond, Kentucky1—1 year out——67Park UniversityParkville, Missouri1—1 year out——68Brookdale Community CollegeLincroft, New Jersey1—1 year out——69The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, Texas1—1 year out——70The University of Texas at AustinAustin, Texas1—1 year out——71Highline CollegeDes Moines, Washington1—1 year out——72Skagit Valley CollegeMount Vernon, Washington1—1 year out——73University of Wisconsin-ParksideKenosha, Wisconsin1—1 year out——74Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, Georgia1—1 year out——75Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, Arizona0—1 year out$70,137—

US Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data (4-digit CIP). Graduates are conferrals in the most recent IPEDS year; earnings cover federally-aided completers who are working and not enrolled; medians for small programs are privacy-suppressed (—).