Public Relations & Advertisingat Illinois State University
Graduates earn $43,874/yr in their first year — about 11.0% above the national Public Relations & Advertising average. Base-case 10-year earnings $591K; scenarios range from $537K to $603K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Illinois State University
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.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Illinois State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Public Relations & Advertising
How Illinois State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Illinois State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Illinois State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Public Relations & Advertising offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Public Relations & Advertising trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Public Relations & Advertising at Illinois State University
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.