Public Relations & Advertising at Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,172/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk High (51% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (161,400 openings/yr)
ROI 9.4x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #89 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 $558K $551K $508K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.5x 9.4x 8.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.7x 6.6x 6.1x
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)
$58,512
Out-of-state: $83,280 (6.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,384
-17% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,205
45% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $38,172/yr, roughly in line with the $39,349 national median for Public Relations & Advertising. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $38,172 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #89 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs, Grand Valley State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $38,172 to $55,205 over five years — a 45% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University accepts 95% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 19,073 students in Allendale, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Grand Valley 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at Grand Valley State 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 $507,672 in decade earnings vs $557,935 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →