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Public Relations & Advertising at Lee University

Cleveland, TN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,162/yr (-16% vs median)

AI Risk High (51% exposed)

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

ROI 5.2x earnings multiple

Ranked #170 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	$473K	$475K	$453K
Earnings Multiple	5.2x	5.2x	5.0x
Probability of Field Employment	62%	55%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	33	32	36

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$90,760

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$81,596

10% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

9.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$43,634

32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $33,162 place Lee University below the $39,349 national median for Public Relations & Advertising — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

At 5.2x 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 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$33,162 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #170 out of 183 programs, Lee University's financial outcomes for Public Relations & Advertising trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $33,162 to $43,634 shows 32% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Lee University

Lee University accepts 72% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 2,712 in Cleveland, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at Lee 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 Lee 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 Lee University's Public Relations & Advertising program score?

This program scores 32/100 — 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.

Why are Public Relations & Advertising earnings lower at Lee University?

Lower starting pay at Lee University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

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