Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelor's degree outcomes at Harding University

Searcy, AR · Private nonprofit · Federal field 0909

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$12,126 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
52.2% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−76% · Negative payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$51,434 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+51%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$33,577$50,607
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
28Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
53Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$49,588Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

84Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
38Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
55Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$51,434$16,626 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$22,130

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$26,854

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$51,434

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$285/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$22,130Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$39,534Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE70.5%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE68.8%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$33,577Year 1
$51,434Year 4
$50,607Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.6% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$4,286
Estimated loan payment$285
53borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$51,434 vs. $63,560

$12,126 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary$59,810 median wageAR estimate · 140 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$65,000 median wageAR estimate · 980 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Managers$104,170 median wageAR estimate · 340 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAdvertising and Promotions Managers$74,880 median wageAR estimate · 140 jobs · 11-2011-3.7% projected U.S. growth · 2.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$71,110 median wageAR estimate · 150 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$50,190 median wageAR estimate · 360 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$37,450 median wageAR estimate · 260 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHuman Resources Managers$108,580 median wageAR estimate · 1,290 jobs · 11-3121+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 16.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTraining and Development Managers$101,830 median wageAR estimate · 210 jobs · 11-3131+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 4.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes$78,560 median wageAR estimate · 30 jobs · 13-1011+9.7% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHealth Education Specialists$62,270 median wageAR estimate · 200 jobs · 21-1091+5.6% projected U.S. growth · 6.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTechnical Writers$61,180 median wageAR estimate · 150 jobs · 27-3042+0.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas State University

$2,762 higher earnings · $3,604 less debt · $9,764 lower annual net price

Earnings
$54,196
Debt
$23,250
Annual net price
$12,366
View outcomes →
Conway, AR

University of Central Arkansas

$4,054 less debt · $5,619 lower annual net price

Earnings
$45,649
Debt
$22,800
Annual net price
$16,511
View outcomes →
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

$32,017 higher earnings · $3,604 less debt · $7,775 lower annual net price

Earnings
$83,451
Debt
$23,250
Annual net price
$14,355
View outcomes →
Provo, UT

Brigham Young University

$29,407 higher earnings · $14,879 less debt · $6,566 lower annual net price

Earnings
$80,841
Debt
$11,975
Annual net price
$15,564
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

28 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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