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Public Relations & Advertising at American University

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
55
Pessimistic
Earnings $50,026/yr (27% vs median)
AI Risk High (51% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (161,400 openings/yr)
ROI 3.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #19 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Public Relations & Advertising graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $892K $847K $723K
Earnings Multiple 3.9x 3.7x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 62% 55% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 59 55

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$226,172
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$167,780
26% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,442
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$94,957
90% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $50,026 per year, Public Relations & Advertising graduates from American University significantly outpace the $39,349 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

An earnings multiple of 3.7x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Public Relations & Advertising's typical career paths, with 51% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 19% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,442 represents roughly 6 months of the $50,026 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #19 of 183 programs, American University's Public Relations & Advertising program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $94,957 show a 90% jump from the $50,026 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About American University

American University accepts 47% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, serving 7,593 students in Washington, DC.

See all programs and financial aid at American University →

Top Career Paths

Human resources managers $140,030/yr
Public relations managers $138,520/yr
Training and development managers $127,090/yr
View all 17 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 183 schools offering Public Relations & Advertising →

Public Relations & Advertising at Other Schools

Syracuse University ($54,934) Southern Methodist University ($51,828) Brigham Young University ($51,436) Assumption University ($51,114) Miami University-Hamilton ($50,700) Miami University-Middletown ($50,700) Miami University-Oxford ($50,700) National University ($50,070)

Other Majors at American University

Finance and Financial Management Services ($83,505) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($58,299) Economics ($58,151) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($55,625) Political Science and Government ($48,034) International Relations and National Security Studies ($47,551) Natural Resources Conservation and Research ($46,780) Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies ($46,206)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Public Relations & Advertising trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at American University?
A score of 59/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Public Relations & Advertising field.
Will AI replace Public Relations & Advertising careers?
With 51% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $723,220 in decade earnings vs $892,065 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →