# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication
- CIP code: 09.09 (Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs)
- Colleges offering it: 450 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 113 | $58,642 | $61,544 | $17,203 |
| Associate's | 51 | $41,209 | $54,879 | $11,000 |
| Bachelor's | 450 | $47,477 | $62,026 | $20,549 |
| Master's | 150 | $64,683 | $81,401 | $37,317 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| First professional | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 91 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/syracuse-university-2667) | Syracuse, NY | $90,535 | $24,250 |
| [Southern Methodist University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-methodist-university-smu-2498) | Dallas, TX | $89,330 | $17,375 |
| [University of Southern California](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Los Angeles, CA | $87,946 | $12,125 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Washington, DC | $85,459 | $19,500 |
| [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign-main-campus-2927) | Champaign, IL | $83,451 | $16,000 |
| [University of Miami](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-miami-2955) | Coral Gables, FL | $82,999 | $15,250 |
| [Pepperdine University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pepperdine-university-2101) | Malibu, CA | $81,417 | $20,549 |
| [University of San Francisco](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-san-francisco-usf-3034) | San Francisco, CA | $81,285 | $19,500 |
| [Brigham Young University-Provo](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brigham-young-university-provo-byu-utah-302) | Provo, UT | $80,841 | $11,000 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Austin, TX | $80,221 | $19,248 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Human Resources Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/human-resources-managers): $149,280 median pay
- [Public Relations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/public-relations-managers): $146,910 median pay
- [Advertising and Promotions Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/advertising-and-promotions-managers): $133,660 median pay
- [Training and Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/training-and-development-managers): $133,000 median pay
- [Fundraising Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fundraising-managers): $125,470 median pay
- [Technical Writers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/technical-writers): $90,390 median pay
- [Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/agents-and-business-managers-of-artists-performers-and-athletes): $82,890 median pay
- [Communications Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/communications-teachers-postsecondary): $78,580 median pay
- [Editors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/editors): $77,920 median pay
- [Public Relations Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/public-relations-specialists): $74,750 median pay
- [Fundraisers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fundraisers): $72,550 median pay
- [Training and Development Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/training-and-development-specialists): $69,280 median pay
- [Health Education Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/health-education-specialists): $64,070 median pay
- [News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/news-analysts-reporters-and-journalists): $62,200 median pay
- [Community Health Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/community-health-workers): $51,850 median pay
- [Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/broadcast-announcers-and-radio-disc-jockeys): $47,340 median pay

## More in Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs

- [Communication and Media Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/communication-and-media-studies): 1,075 colleges
- [Journalism](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/journalism): 385 colleges
- [Radio, Television, and Digital Communication](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/radio-television-and-digital-communication): 378 colleges
- [Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/communication-journalism-and-related-programs-other): 75 colleges
- Publishing: 12 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/