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Public Relations & Advertising at Drake University

Des Moines, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,492/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk High (51% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (161,400 openings/yr)
ROI 3.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #63 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 $722K $696K $613K
Earnings Multiple 3.6x 3.5x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 62% 55% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 52 51 49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$199,776
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$120,168
40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$75,436
70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $44,492/yr, edging above the $39,349 national average for Public Relations & Advertising — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 3.5x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

At $21,500 in median debt against $44,492 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #63 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs, Drake University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $75,436 show a 70% jump from the $44,492 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Drake University

With a 64% acceptance rate, Drake University is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 2,669 students in Des Moines, IA. The average net cost of $120,168 over four years represents a 40% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Drake 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 Drake University

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($80,044) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($69,835) Accounting and Related Services ($65,922) Finance and Financial Management Services ($62,049) Marketing ($51,968) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($47,806) Journalism ($41,913) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($41,630)

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 Drake University?
A score of 51/100 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 $613,496 in decade earnings vs $721,977 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →