Home › Illinois State University › Public Relations & Advertising

Public Relations & Advertising at Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,874/yr (11% vs median)

AI Risk High (51% exposed)

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

ROI 9.2x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #33 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs Top 25%

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	$603K	$591K	$537K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.4x	9.2x	8.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.4x	5.3x	4.8x
Probability of Field Employment	62%	55%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	57	56	54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$64,084

Out-of-state: $112,344 (5.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$75,984

-19% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,349

42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $43,874/yr, edging above the $39,349 national average for Public Relations & Advertising — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.2x 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 11% gap from the optimistic case.

At $21,500 in median debt against $43,874 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #33 of 183 nationally, this is a top-5% Public Relations & Advertising program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $43,874 to $62,349 over five years — a 42% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Illinois State University

Illinois State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 18,414 students in Normal, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Illinois 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

Public Relations & Advertising at Other Schools

Other Majors at Illinois State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at Illinois State University?

A score of 56/100 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 $537,001 in decade earnings vs $603,398 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Illinois State University's Public Relations & Advertising program stand out?

Ranked #33 of 183 programs nationally, Illinois State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →