Public Relations & Advertising: American University vs Iowa State University
Head-to-Head
| American University | Iowa State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 3.7x | 14.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.7x | 5.4x |
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $226,172 | $41,988 |
| Year 1 Earnings | $50,026 | $42,530 |
| 10-Year Earnings | $847K | $601K |
| Median Debt | $26,442 | $23,125 |
| Debt-to-Earnings Ratio | 6.3 months | 6.5 months |
| DegreeWorth Score (In-State) | 50/100 | 59/100 |
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 89.1% |
Both programs have high AI automation risk (51% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Public Relations & Advertising graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →
ROI Breakdown
How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Public Relations & Advertising graduates.
| American University | Iowa State University | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $226,172 | $41,988 |
| 4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) | $226,172 | $110,732 |
| 10-Year Projected Earnings | $847K | $601K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 3.7x | 14.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.7x | 5.4x |
| 5-Year Salary Growth | +90% | +48% |
"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.
AI Disruption Scenarios
Both schools share identical AI exposure for Public Relations & Advertising (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.
| American University | Iowa State University | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optim. | Base | Pessim. | Optim. | Base | Pessim. | |
| 10-Year Earnings | $892K | $847K | $723K | $615K | $601K | $544K |
| Earnings Multiple (IS) | 3.9x | 3.7x | 3.2x | 14.6x | 14.3x | 13.0x |
| DegreeWorth Score | 52 | 50 | 45 | 61 | 59 | 56 |
For the full AI analysis of Public Relations & Advertising career paths, see the American University or Iowa State University program pages.
Earnings Trajectory Comparison
Projected annual earnings for Public Relations & Advertising graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.
Career Paths
Public Relations & Advertising graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human resources managers | $140,030 | 17,900 | +5.0% | 48% |
| Public relations managers | $138,520 | 6,600 | +5.0% | 55% |
| Training and development managers | $127,090 | 3,800 | +5.8% | 50% |
| Advertising and promotions managers | $126,960 | 2,100 | -2.2% | 48% |
| Fundraising managers | $123,480 | 3,600 | +4.2% | 56% |
| Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes | $96,310 | 2,200 | +8.7% | 54% |
| Technical writers | $91,670 | 4,500 | +0.9% | 70% |
| Communications teachers, postsecondary | $77,800 | 2,700 | +2.1% | 43% |