Home Schools Meredith College Public Relations & Advertising
Communications · Public Relations & Advertising Rank #132 of 183

Public Relations & Advertisingat Meredith College

Graduates earn $40,762/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Public Relations & Advertising average. Base-case 10-year earnings $479K; scenarios range from $456K to $477K depending on AI disruption.

Raleigh, NC Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
41 AVERAGE
41
Optimistic
40
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,762
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$479K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Meredith College

At $40,762/yr, Public Relations & Advertising graduates from Meredith College land near the $39,349 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The financial case is thin at 2.7x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $40,762 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #132 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs, Meredith College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$456K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple2.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$479K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$477K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score41/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Meredith College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Public Relations & Advertising graduates typically work

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.

1
Human resources managers
+5.0% 10-yr growth · 17,900 openings/yr
$140,030/yr
Moderate
2
Public relations managers
+5.0% 10-yr growth · 6,600 openings/yr
$138,520/yr
High
3
Training and development managers
+5.8% 10-yr growth · 3,800 openings/yr
$127,090/yr
High
4
Advertising and promotions managers
-2.2% 10-yr growth · 2,100 openings/yr
$126,960/yr
Moderate
5
Fundraising managers
+4.2% 10-yr growth · 3,600 openings/yr
$123,480/yr
High
6
Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 2,200 openings/yr
$96,310/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Public Relations & Advertising

How Meredith College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Syracuse University
NY · Private nonprofit
56
DW Score
$55K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
Southern Methodist University
TX · Private nonprofit
52
DW Score
$52K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Brigham Young University
UT · Private nonprofit
71
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
26.4x
ROI
Top score
Miami University-Hamilton
OH · Public
72
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
26.2x
ROI
Miami University-Middletown
OH · Public
72
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
26.2x
ROI
Also at Meredith College

Other top programs at Meredith College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Meredith College, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Public Relations & Advertising at Meredith College

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at Meredith College?

A score of 41/100 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 $455,507 in decade earnings vs $477,066 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Meredith College a hidden gem for Public Relations & Advertising?

After financial aid, the average student pays $80,788 over four years — 54% below the $175,744 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.