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Public Relations & Advertising at Harding University

Searcy, AR · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,577/yr (-15% vs median)

AI Risk High (51% exposed)

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

ROI 5.3x earnings multiple

Ranked #158 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	$532K	$527K	$491K
Earnings Multiple	5.3x	5.3x	4.9x
Probability of Field Employment	62%	55%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	36	35	39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$99,552

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$82,316

17% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,767

9.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,607

51% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $33,577/yr, roughly in line with the $39,349 national median for Public Relations & Advertising. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 5.3x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

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

The $26,767 debt-to-$33,577 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #158 out of 183 programs, Harding University's financial outcomes for Public Relations & Advertising trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $33,577 to $50,607 over five years (51% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Harding University

Harding University accepts 100% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 3,323 in Searcy, AR.

See all programs and financial aid at Harding 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 Harding 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

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

This program scores 35/100 — 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 →