Public Relations & Advertisingat Lewis University
Graduates earn $24,202/yr in their first year — about 38.0% below the national Public Relations & Advertising average. Base-case 10-year earnings $375K; scenarios range from $380K to $360K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Lewis University
While the career paths listed are impressive, the data suggests graduates from this program aren't landing those senior-level management roles right out of college. Instead, you'll likely be competing for entry-level coordinator and assistant positions in the hyper-competitive Chicago media market. Without the strong alumni networks or direct recruiting pipelines of larger, more established city programs, breaking into top agencies downtown can be a significant uphill battle. The high AI risk also signals that foundational roles in this field are vulnerable to automation, making a strong, specialized skillset more critical than ever.
Your key move here is to hustle for internships. Before you even graduate, you need multiple, high-quality experiences in downtown Chicago agencies or corporate communication departments to build a portfolio and network that can overcome the program's limited placement power.
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 Lewis 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 Lewis University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Lewis University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Lewis 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 Lewis University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at Lewis University?
A score of 26/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Public Relations & Advertising. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $380,086 in decade earnings vs $360,156 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Public Relations & Advertising from Lewis University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Is Lewis University a hidden gem for Public Relations & Advertising?
After financial aid, the average student pays $73,480 over four years — 52% below the $151,528 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.