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Public Relations & Advertising at Butler University

Indianapolis, IN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,701/yr (1% vs median)

AI Risk High (51% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (161,400 openings/yr)

ROI 3.0x earnings multiple

Ranked #145 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs

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	$551K	$544K	$503K
Earnings Multiple	3.0x	3.0x	2.7x
Probability of Field Employment	62%	55%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	39	38	38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$183,920

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$153,888

16% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,588

8.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,854

38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,701/yr, roughly in line with the $39,349 national median for Public Relations & Advertising. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 3.0x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 51% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,588 debt-to-$39,701 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #145 out of 183 programs, Butler University's financial outcomes for Public Relations & Advertising trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $39,701 to $54,854 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Butler University

Butler University accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 4,383 students in Indianapolis, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Butler 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

Public Relations & Advertising at Other Schools

Other Majors at Butler University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Butler University's Public Relations & Advertising program score?

This program scores 38/100 — on the lower end for Public Relations & Advertising. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Public Relations & Advertising to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Public Relations & Advertising careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 51% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →