Public Relations & Advertising at University of Memphis

Memphis, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,819/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (51% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (161,400 openings/yr)
ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (8.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #93 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs

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 $470K $473K $451K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.4x 11.4x 10.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.0x 8.0x 7.6x
Probability of Field Employment 62% 55% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 47 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,376
Out-of-state: $59,136 (8.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$53,012
-28% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,250
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,819 track close to the $39,349 national median for Public Relations & Advertising programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.4x 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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,250 represents roughly 6 months of the $39,819 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #93 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs, University of Memphis falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About University of Memphis

University of Memphis has a 93% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 13,645 in Memphis, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Memphis →

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 Memphis

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 Memphis?
A score of 47/100 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 $451,211 in decade earnings vs $470,409 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →