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Communications · Public Relations & Advertising Rank #16 of 183

Public Relations & Advertisingat Michigan State University

Graduates earn $45,158/yr in their first year — about 15.0% above the national Public Relations & Advertising average. Base-case 10-year earnings $660K; scenarios range from $587K to $681K depending on AI disruption.

East Lansing, MI Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
60 SOLID
61
Optimistic
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$45,158
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.2x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$660K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Michigan State University

Graduates earn $45,158/yr, edging above the $39,349 national average for Public Relations & Advertising — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 10.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 51% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,605 debt-to-$45,158 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #16 ranking out of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs nationally puts Michigan State University in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $45,158 to $71,448 over five years (58% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

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
$587K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple9.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$660K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple10.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$681K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score61/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Michigan State University'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 Michigan State University 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 Michigan State University

Other top programs at Michigan State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Michigan 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Public Relations & Advertising at Michigan State University

How does Michigan State University's Public Relations & Advertising program score?

This program scores 60/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Public Relations & Advertising graduates.

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.