Public Relations & Advertisingat Washington State University
Graduates earn $45,820/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Public Relations & Advertising average. Base-case 10-year earnings $511K; scenarios range from $479K to $513K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Washington State University
At $45,820 per year, Public Relations & Advertising graduates from Washington State University earn slightly above the $39,349 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.8x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
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 7% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $19,112 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #68 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs, Washington State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
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 Washington State University'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 Washington State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Washington State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Washington 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 →Frequently asked about Public Relations & Advertising at Washington State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at Washington State University?
A score of 51/100 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 $478,541 in decade earnings vs $512,777 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.