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Public Relations & Advertising at Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $38,027/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk High (51% exposed)

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

ROI 10.5x earnings multiple (7.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #92 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs Top 50%

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	$537K	$532K	$494K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.6x	10.5x	9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.5x	7.4x	6.9x
Probability of Field Employment	62%	55%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	47	49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,452

Out-of-state: $71,892 (7.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$64,260

-27% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

6.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,698

39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,027 track close to the $39,349 national median for Public Relations & Advertising programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 10.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 51% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,500 debt-to-$38,027 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #92 out of 183 programs, Cleveland State 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 $38,027 to $52,698 shows 39% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University has a 95% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 9,077 in Cleveland, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Cleveland State 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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

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

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

This program scores 47/100 — 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 →