Bright outlook
Management
Human Resources Managers
- Median pay
- $149,280
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Reading Comprehension
ProgramsCommunication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
CIP09.09
450 colleges offer Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 450
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $62,026
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $20,549
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 113
- Associate's
- 51
- Bachelor's
- 450
- Master's
- 150
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 9
- Doctoral
- 8
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 91
What it covers
About Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
A general program that focuses on organizational communication, public relations, and advertising; and that prepares individuals to function in a wide range of public and private sector positions requiring the skills of persuasive communication. Includes instruction in communications, public relations, and advertising theory; principles and techniques of persuasion; message/image design; marketing strategy; professional writing; public speaking and multi-media presentation skills; digital communications; and applied research.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 09.09.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 09.09.
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
- Organizational Communication, General
- Public Relations/Image Management
- Advertising
- Political Communication
- Health Communication
- Sports Communication
- International and Intercultural Communication
- Technical and Scientific Communication
- Communication Management and Strategic Communications
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 113 | $61,5444 yrs after · 5 colleges | $17,2037 colleges |
| Associate's | 51 | $54,8794 yrs after · 1 college | $11,0001 college |
| Bachelor's | 450 | $62,0264 yrs after · 172 colleges | $20,549141 colleges |
| Master's | 150 | $81,4014 yrs after · 29 colleges | $37,31731 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 8 | Not reported | Not reported |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 91 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofit · 228 graduates
$90,535
debt $24,250
- 2
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · 133 graduates
$89,330
debt $17,375
- 3
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · 78 graduates
$87,946
debt $12,125
- 4
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 41 graduates
$85,459
debt $19,500
- 5
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public · 192 graduates
$83,451
debt $16,000
- 6
Coral Gables, FL · Private nonprofit · 177 graduates
$82,999
debt $15,250
- 7
Malibu, CA · Private nonprofit · 81 graduates
$81,417
debt $20,549
- 8
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 18 graduates
$81,285
debt $19,500
- 9
Brigham Young University-Provo
Provo, UT · Private nonprofit · 189 graduates
$80,841
debt $11,000
- 10
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX · Public · 511 graduates
$80,221
debt $19,248
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Public Relations Managers
- Median pay
- $146,910
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
Management
Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Median pay
- $133,660
- Outlook
- Decline
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Training and Development Managers
- Median pay
- $133,000
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Learning Strategies
- Active Listening
- Instructing
- Bright outlook
Management
Fundraising Managers
- Median pay
- $125,470
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Listening
Arts, design and media
Technical Writers
- Median pay
- $90,390
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Business and finance
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
- Median pay
- $82,890
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Negotiation
- Persuasion
Education
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $78,580
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Instructing
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
More in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this areaQuestions about Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
How many colleges offer Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at these degree levels: certificate (113 colleges), associate's (51 colleges), bachelor's (450 colleges), master's (150 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (9 colleges), doctoral (8 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (91 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication earn $62,026 a year four years after finishing, across 172 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication graduates earn the most?
Syracuse University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication: $90,535 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.