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Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Southern California

Name: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Bachelor's Degree outcomes at University of Southern California
Creator: U.S. Department of Education

Los Angeles, CA · 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 are notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$24,386 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 23.0% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $62,365 / year
10-year scenario: +38% · Positive 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.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$249,460

$18,000Annual price+$177,460

$33,000Current college-wide context+$117,460

$36,000Annual price+$105,460

$54,000Annual price+$33,460

$72,000Annual price−$38,540

$90,000Annual price−$110,540

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+41%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$50,041 → $70,555

Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

62Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

77Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

68Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$47,870Awarding-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.

276Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

53Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

164Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

142Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$87,946$51,864 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 57 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$32,740

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

02 · BORROWING$20,251

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$87,946

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$215/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.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$32,740Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$90,300Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE9.8%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE91.8%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.

$50,041Year 1

$87,946Year 4

$70,555Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

2.9% 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$7,329

Estimated loan payment$215

68borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$87,946 vs. $63,560

$24,386 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+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$85,030 median wageCA estimate · 32,710 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Managers$167,980 median wageCA estimate · 9,400 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAdvertising and Promotions Managers$167,230 median wageCA estimate · 3,080 jobs · 11-2011-3.7% projected U.S. growth · 2.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$135,870 median wageCA estimate · 5,430 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$79,710 median wageCA estimate · 12,860 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k 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 · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHuman Resources Managers$170,080 median wageCA estimate · 27,450 jobs · 11-3121+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 16.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTraining and Development Managers$156,260 median wageCA estimate · 6,680 jobs · 11-3131+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 4.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTechnical Writers$104,000 median wageCA estimate · 5,280 jobs · 27-3042+0.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes$98,110 median wageCA estimate · 4,860 jobs · 13-1011+9.7% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$98,030 median wageCA estimate · 14,830 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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