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Public Relations & Advertising at University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,275/yr (15% vs median)

AI Risk High (51% exposed)

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

ROI 10.7x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #30 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs Top 25%

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	$572K	$563K	$517K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.8x	10.7x	9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.3x	4.2x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	62%	55%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	58	57	55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$52,848

Out-of-state: $133,624 (4.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$68,872

-30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,000

6.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$59,011

30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $45,275 per year, Public Relations & Advertising graduates from University of Kentucky earn slightly above the $39,349 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Public Relations & Advertising programs nationally.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $45,275 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #30 of 183 nationally, this is a top-5% Public Relations & Advertising program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $45,275 to $59,011 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Kentucky

With 92% of applicants admitted, University of Kentucky prioritizes broad access, with 23,189 students enrolled in Lexington, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Kentucky →

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 University of Kentucky

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at University of Kentucky?

A score of 57/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Public Relations & Advertising field.

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 $516,604 in decade earnings vs $571,776 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Kentucky's Public Relations & Advertising program stand out?

Ranked #30 of 183 programs nationally, University of Kentucky lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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