Public Relations & Advertising at Howard University

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,120/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (51% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (161,400 openings/yr)
ROI 3.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #137 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 $465K $469K $448K
Earnings Multiple 3.5x 3.5x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 62% 55% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$133,376
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$191,676
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,750
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,120 track close to the $39,349 national median for Public Relations & Advertising programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 3.5x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 51% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,750 debt-to-$39,120 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #137 out of 183 programs, Howard University's financial outcomes for Public Relations & Advertising trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Howard University

Howard University admits 35% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, serving 9,604 students in Washington, DC. Pell Grant recipients make up 41% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard University's Public Relations & Advertising program score?
This program scores 40/100 — 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 →