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Public Relations & Advertising at North Central College

Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $48,549/yr (23% vs median)
AI Risk High (51% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (161,400 openings/yr)
ROI 3.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #61 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs Top 50%

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 $630K $615K $554K
Earnings Multiple 3.5x 3.5x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 62% 55% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 52 51 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$177,576
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$92,132
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,649
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$66,959
38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

North Central College's Public Relations & Advertising graduates start at $48,549/yr — above the $39,349 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 3.5x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 51% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $20,649 in median debt clears quickly against $48,549 in annual earnings.

Ranked #61 out of 183 programs, North Central College's Public Relations & Advertising offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $48,549 to $66,959 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About North Central College

North Central College's 58% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a compact campus enrolling 2,360 students in Naperville, IL. The average net cost of $92,132 over four years represents a 48% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at North Central College →

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

Compare this program → View all 183 schools offering Public Relations & Advertising →

Public Relations & Advertising at Other Schools

Syracuse University ($54,934) Southern Methodist University ($51,828) Brigham Young University ($51,436) Assumption University ($51,114) Miami University-Hamilton ($50,700) Miami University-Middletown ($50,700) Miami University-Oxford ($50,700) National University ($50,070)

Other Majors at North Central College

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($85,168) Accounting and Related Services ($58,717) Human Resources Management and Services ($53,587) Computer Science ($53,544) Economics ($52,728) Finance and Financial Management Services ($51,420) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($48,074) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($47,668)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Public Relations & Advertising trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 North Central College's Public Relations & Advertising program score?
This program scores 51/100, 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →