Public Relations & Advertisingat University of Kentucky
Graduates earn $45,275/yr in their first year — about 15.0% above the national Public Relations & Advertising average. Base-case 10-year earnings $563K; scenarios range from $517K to $572K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Kentucky
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.
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 University of Kentucky'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 University of Kentucky stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Kentucky
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Kentucky, 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 University of Kentucky
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.