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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Rank colleges by
Bachelor's programs — top 100 of 370 colleges by graduates
CollegeGrads / yearEarnings 1 yearEarnings 5 yearsDebt
1Southern New Hampshire UniversityManchester, New Hampshire608$46,5201 year out$56,425$27,7992The University of Texas at AustinAustin, Texas487$47,9721 year out$79,337$20,9953Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, Michigan444$45,1581 year out$71,448$23,8994University of OregonEugene, Oregon430$42,1591 year out$71,111$21,5005University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, Colorado411$42,2181 year out—$19,4336University of FloridaGainesville, Florida381$42,0991 year out$72,397$17,4397Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, Pennsylvania349$50,5871 year out$77,241$24,6938Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, Texas318$40,4111 year out$57,471$21,7649The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, Alabama315$42,4451 year out$64,089$25,00010University of GeorgiaAthens, Georgia298$45,3261 year out$73,502$21,78711Boston UniversityBoston, Massachusetts297—1 year out——12Fashion Institute of TechnologyNew York, New York275$36,8491 year out$66,374$21,50013Washington State UniversityPullman, Washington262$45,8201 year out—$20,50014Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, Texas259$41,0231 year out$58,729$21,50015Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania253$41,1651 year out$63,387$26,00016University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, Nebraska226$42,1681 year out$58,750$23,25817Florida International UniversityMiami, Florida222$34,4351 year out—$12,00018Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, New York218$54,9341 year out$83,644$26,00019Brigham Young UniversityProvo, Utah202$51,4361 year out$71,225$11,97520University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, Minnesota197—1 year out——21University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, Illinois191$48,0631 year out$75,277$23,25022Rowan UniversityGlassboro, New Jersey184$35,1161 year out$57,437$23,12523University of South FloridaTampa, Florida183$34,1051 year out—$17,08224University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia, South Carolina183$42,9741 year out$66,664$24,25025Utah Valley UniversityOrem, Utah183—1 year out——26Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, Georgia170$41,4601 year out—$26,00027Elon UniversityElon, North Carolina167—1 year out——28University of HoustonHouston, Texas158$42,4721 year out$57,785$23,80029Miami University-OxfordOxford, Ohio151$50,7001 year out$79,160$25,00030Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, Texas150$48,0531 year out$81,217$24,14831DePaul UniversityChicago, Illinois147$41,2341 year out$68,064$24,50032University of Rhode IslandKingston, Rhode Island144$42,1811 year out$74,225$23,00033Grand Valley State UniversityAllendale, Michigan140$38,1721 year out$55,205$26,37734University of KentuckyLexington, Kentucky134$45,2751 year out$59,011$24,62535The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, Tennessee134$42,1731 year out$62,859$21,36836University of MiamiCoral Gables, Florida131$43,9171 year out$75,837$18,00037Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, Arizona121$31,0931 year out—$20,84738Loyola University ChicagoChicago, Illinois119$43,3081 year out$67,395$25,00039Ithaca CollegeIthaca, New York119$39,4461 year out$66,212$23,25040Appalachian State UniversityBoone, North Carolina111$36,5591 year out$55,221$21,50041Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater, Oklahoma108$34,7521 year out$54,597$22,06242American UniversityWashington, District of Columbia107$50,0261 year out$94,957$26,44243Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, Texas107$51,8281 year out$76,143$19,75044University of Central FloridaOrlando, Florida105$37,3881 year out$58,523$18,75045Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, Arizona99$36,9201 year out$54,715$21,62546Cleveland State UniversityCleveland, Ohio99$38,0271 year out$52,698$26,75047Howard UniversityWashington, District of Columbia96$39,1201 year out—$26,00048Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, Wisconsin91$40,5831 year out$64,008$25,00049The University of TampaTampa, Florida90$36,9771 year out$71,966$25,00050Auburn UniversityAuburn, Alabama86$41,4581 year out$53,562$23,25051Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, California85$45,9881 year out$75,482$26,00052Florida State UniversityTallahassee, Florida84$41,0601 year out$57,845$13,84953California State University-Dominguez HillsCarson, California81$38,7981 year out$56,022$13,00054University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, California80$50,0411 year out$70,555$20,25155Iowa State UniversityAmes, Iowa80$42,5301 year out$63,153$24,75056Butler UniversityIndianapolis, Indiana79$39,7011 year out$54,854$26,17657San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, California78—1 year out$75,904—58Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, Michigan78$37,7181 year out$57,951$27,00059University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, Oklahoma78$45,7591 year out$58,847$20,71860University of VermontBurlington, Vermont73$35,9311 year out$58,211$24,12561Pace UniversityNew York, New York69$44,4851 year out$68,352$25,00062University of Florida-OnlineGainesville, Florida69$42,0991 year out$72,397$17,43963Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, Kentucky68$35,5341 year out$49,056$25,00064The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, Texas67$33,2801 year out$45,106$22,00065Illinois State UniversityNormal, Illinois65$43,8741 year out$62,349$22,50066Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, Michigan65$40,3461 year out$60,505$27,00067Universidad del Sagrado CorazonSanturce, Puerto Rico65$13,0851 year out$28,598$12,37568Ball State UniversityMuncie, Indiana64$38,0201 year out$54,927$23,87969Drake UniversityDes Moines, Iowa63$44,4921 year out$75,436$23,25070Suffolk UniversityBoston, Massachusetts60$44,8631 year out—$27,00071University of Central OklahomaEdmond, Oklahoma59$36,3881 year out$48,739$21,50072Siena UniversityLoudonville, New York55—1 year out——73California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, California54$28,2261 year out—$23,01274Quinnipiac UniversityHamden, Connecticut54$43,5911 year out$73,088$23,25075Georgia Southern UniversityStatesboro, Georgia53$35,6491 year out$57,561$25,00076Bradley UniversityPeoria, Illinois52$38,3511 year out$56,266$26,81977Kent State University at KentKent, Ohio52$40,8671 year out$59,496$25,00078University of Wisconsin-River FallsRiver Falls, Wisconsin52—1 year out——79Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania51$39,6511 year out$57,855$26,00080Chapman UniversityOrange, California50$40,1411 year out$75,336$22,62581Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, Arkansas49$40,8121 year out—$23,25082Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau, Missouri47$40,1271 year out$67,273$25,00083Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, Pennsylvania46$38,4881 year out$50,649$26,00084Murray State UniversityMurray, Kentucky45$38,0541 year out$44,245$22,25085University of MemphisMemphis, Tennessee45$39,8191 year out—$25,00086Emerson CollegeBoston, Massachusetts44$28,6061 year out$63,073$24,62587University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasSan Juan, Puerto Rico44—1 year out$43,565$5,50088University of IdahoMoscow, Idaho42$38,1361 year out$47,892$26,00089St. John's University-New YorkQueens, New York42$38,2101 year out$65,272$26,84890State University of New York at OswegoOswego, New York42$37,2031 year out$58,896$26,00091Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania42$37,1251 year out—$27,00092Central Connecticut State UniversityNew Britain, Connecticut40$35,4441 year out—$22,62593Full Sail UniversityWinter Park, Florida40$26,7281 year out—$32,10394Hofstra UniversityHempstead, New York40$42,0301 year out$72,155$24,00095George Washington UniversityWashington, District of Columbia39—1 year out$98,321$23,25096Harding UniversitySearcy, Arkansas37$33,5771 year out$50,607$26,85497Florida Southern CollegeLakeland, Florida36$35,0231 year out$58,724$25,95598University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, Iowa36$43,7551 year out$57,636$21,09699San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, California34$44,1971 year out$69,123$17,038100University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireEau Claire, Wisconsin34—1 year out——
Associate programs — 30 colleges
CollegeGrads / yearEarnings 1 yearEarnings 5 yearsDebt
1Fashion Institute of TechnologyNew York, New York350$21,0061 year out$53,051$12,0002Sinclair 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
1University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, Wisconsin96—1 year out——2University of GeorgiaAthens, Georgia91$41,1831 year out$61,055$25,0003Purdue University GlobalWest Lafayette, Indiana90—1 year out——4Miami Media SchoolDoral, Florida59$14,2291 year out—$9,5005Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, Kentucky45—1 year out——6Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, Texas44—1 year out——7University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, Ohio41—1 year out——8Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, Ohio32—1 year out——9University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkosh, Wisconsin32—1 year out——10Rowan UniversityGlassboro, New Jersey22—1 year out——11Colorado Media SchoolDenver, Colorado22$15,7181 year out—$15,83312Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, Indiana20—1 year out——13University of North DakotaGrand Forks, North Dakota20—1 year out——14Ohio Media School-ColumbusColumbus, Ohio20$15,7181 year out—$15,83315Boise State UniversityBoise, Idaho19$43,8761 year out$65,309$22,97716University of Akron Wayne CollegeOrrville, Ohio18—1 year out——17Valencia CollegeOrlando, Florida17—1 year out——18Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfield, Missouri17—1 year out——19Sinclair Community CollegeDayton, Ohio17—1 year out——20University of KentuckyLexington, Kentucky14—1 year out—$25,00021Santa Monica CollegeSanta Monica, California13—1 year out——22University of FloridaGainesville, Florida13—1 year out——23Palomar CollegeSan Marcos, California12—1 year out——24Santiago Canyon CollegeOrange, California12—1 year out——25University of Michigan-DearbornDearborn, Michigan11—1 year out——26Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania11—1 year out——27Canadian Valley Technology CenterEl Reno, Oklahoma10—1 year out——28Illinois Media SchoolChicago, Illinois10$21,9021 year out—$15,83329Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempe, Arizona9—1 year out——30Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, Arkansas9—1 year out——31Broward CollegeFort Lauderdale, Florida9—1 year out——32Utah State UniversityLogan, Utah9—1 year out——33University of Missouri-St LouisSaint Louis, Missouri8—1 year out——34University of ToledoToledo, Ohio8—1 year out——35Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock, Pennsylvania8—1 year out——36Ohio Media School-Valley ViewValley View, Ohio8$15,7181 year out—$15,83337Southwestern CollegeWinfield, Kansas7—1 year out——38Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis, Indiana6—1 year out——39Community College of Rhode IslandWarwick, Rhode Island6—1 year out——40University of UtahSalt Lake City, Utah6—1 year out——41The University of MontanaMissoula, Montana5—1 year out——42Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud, Minnesota4—1 year out——43University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, Missouri4—1 year out——44Utah Tech UniversitySaint George, Utah4—1 year out——45Southern Utah UniversityCedar City, Utah4—1 year out——46North Dakota State University-Main CampusFargo, North Dakota3—1 year out——47Illinois Media School-Chicago CampusChicago, Illinois3$21,9021 year out—$15,83348Pennsylvania State University-World CampusUniversity Park, Pennsylvania3—1 year out——49Augusta UniversityAugusta, Georgia3—1 year out——50University of IdahoMoscow, Idaho2—1 year out——51Kentucky State UniversityFrankfort, Kentucky2—1 year out——52Boston UniversityBoston, Massachusetts2—1 year out——53Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, Missouri2—1 year out——54Webster UniversitySaint Louis, Missouri2—1 year out——55Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeErie, Pennsylvania2—1 year out——56University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater, Wisconsin2—1 year out——57University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireEau Claire, Wisconsin2—1 year out——58Scottsdale Community CollegeScottsdale, Arizona1—1 year out——59De Anza CollegeCupertino, California1—1 year out——60Los Angeles Harbor CollegeWilmington, California1—1 year out——61Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver, Colorado1—1 year out——62Connecticut State Community CollegeNew Britain, Connecticut1—1 year out——63State College of Florida-Manatee-SarasotaBradenton, Florida1—1 year out——64Kansas State UniversityManhattan, Kansas1—1 year out——65Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond, Kentucky1—1 year out——66Park UniversityParkville, Missouri1—1 year out——67Brookdale Community CollegeLincroft, New Jersey1—1 year out——68The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, Texas1—1 year out——69The University of Texas at AustinAustin, Texas1—1 year out——70Highline CollegeDes Moines, Washington1—1 year out——71Skagit Valley CollegeMount Vernon, Washington1—1 year out——72University of Wisconsin-ParksideKenosha, Wisconsin1—1 year out——73Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, Georgia1—1 year out——74Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, Arizona0—1 year out$70,137—75Ohio Media School-CincinnatiNorwood, Ohio0$14,2291 year out—$9,500
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 (—).