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Public Relations & Advertising at DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $41,234/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (51% exposed)

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

ROI 3.6x earnings multiple

Ranked #88 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	$665K	$646K	$577K
Earnings Multiple	3.7x	3.6x	3.2x
Probability of Field Employment	62%	55%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	47	46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$177,840

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$116,564

34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,332

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$68,064

65% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $41,234/yr, Public Relations & Advertising graduates from DePaul University land near the $39,349 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

An earnings multiple of 3.6x 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 13% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,332 represents roughly 6 months of the $41,234 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #88 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs, DePaul University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $68,064 show a 65% jump from the $41,234 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About DePaul University

With 74% of applicants admitted, DePaul University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 14,283 in Chicago, IL. The average net cost of $116,564 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at DePaul 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at DePaul University?

A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Public Relations & Advertising. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $576,747 in decade earnings vs $665,013 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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