Public Relations & Advertising at Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
44
Optimistic
44
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,013/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (51% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (161,400 openings/yr)
ROI 3.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #114 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 $716K $691K $609K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.2x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 62% 55% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 44 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$214,000
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$145,484
32% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
8.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,987
85% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $39,013/yr, Public Relations & Advertising graduates from Gonzaga University land near the $39,349 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

An earnings multiple of 3.2x 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.

Median debt of $26,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $39,013 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #114 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs, Gonzaga University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $71,987 show a 85% jump from the $39,013 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Gonzaga University

With 76% of applicants admitted, Gonzaga University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 5,098 in Spokane, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $145,484 — 32% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Gonzaga 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 Gonzaga 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at Gonzaga University?
A score of 44/100 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 $609,344 in decade earnings vs $715,543 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →