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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

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

Malibu, CA · Private nonprofit

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above similar programs.

$17,857 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
31.9% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
$46,043 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
−12% · Negative payoff
Available price data
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$81,417 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.

+64%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$45,988 → $75,482
90Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
79Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
114Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
86Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$79,119Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 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.

224Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
73Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
92Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
142Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
115Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$81,417$45,335 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 93 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. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$58,098

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

02 · BORROWING$26,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$81,417

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$276/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$58,098Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$93,512Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE62.9%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE83.4%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.

$45,988Year 1
$81,417Year 4
$75,482Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.1% 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$6,785
Estimated loan payment$276
86borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$81,417 vs. $63,560

$17,857 above 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$135,000 median wageCA estimate · 3,140 jobs · 25-1122$102,290–$186,490 middle 50% of CA wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$85,030 median wageCA estimate · 32,710 jobs · 27-3031$64,460–$121,180 middle 50% of CA wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Managers$167,980 median wageCA estimate · 9,400 jobs · 11-2032$125,550–$222,310 middle 50% of CA wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAdvertising and Promotions Managers$167,230 median wageCA estimate · 3,080 jobs · 11-2011$122,790–$216,220 middle 50% of CA wages-3.7% projected U.S. growth · 2,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$135,870 median wageCA estimate · 5,430 jobs · 11-2033$106,910–$192,290 middle 50% of CA wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$79,710 median wageCA estimate · 12,860 jobs · 13-1131$62,360–$101,930 middle 50% of CA wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$62,200 median wageU.S. estimate · 4,140 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHuman Resources Managers$170,080 median wageCA estimate · 27,450 jobs · 11-3121$129,210–$224,990 middle 50% of CA wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 16,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTraining and Development Managers$156,260 median wageCA estimate · 6,680 jobs · 11-3131$121,420–$208,040 middle 50% of CA wages+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 4,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTechnical Writers$104,000 median wageCA estimate · 5,280 jobs · 27-3042$84,250–$141,280 middle 50% of CA wages+0.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes$98,110 median wageCA estimate · 4,860 jobs · 13-1011$76,010–$163,570 middle 50% of CA wages+9.7% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$98,030 median wageCA estimate · 14,830 jobs · 27-3041$71,090–$136,820 middle 50% of CA wages-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 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.

Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California

$6,529 higher earnings · $5,749 less debt · $25,358 lower annual net price

Earnings
$87,946
Debt
$20,251
Annual net price
$32,740
View outcomes →
San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

$2,750 less debt · $16,667 lower annual net price

Earnings
$81,285
Debt
$23,250
Annual net price
$41,431
View outcomes →
Orange, CA

Chapman University

$3,375 less debt · $11,543 lower annual net price

Earnings
$80,139
Debt
$22,625
Annual net price
$46,555
View outcomes →
San Diego, CA

San Diego State University

$8,962 less debt · $42,734 lower annual net price

Earnings
$67,414
Debt
$17,038
Annual net price
$15,364
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

114 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.

Calculate my payoff →