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

Name: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Master'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.

$9,635 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: Not available
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $178,800 / year
10-year scenario: Withheld by data safeguards
Price evidence: College-wide context only

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$50,634 → $76,312

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

29Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

38Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

Not availableBorrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-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.

205Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

58Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

Not reportedPell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

146Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$58,761Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$89,760$30,999 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: Parent PLUS not reported · 77 Grad 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 · BORROWINGNot available

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$89,760

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENTNot available

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.

$50,634Year 1

$89,760Year 4

$76,312Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

Repayment pressure is not available

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

Gross monthly earnings$7,480

Estimated loan paymentNot available

Not availableborrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$89,760 vs. $80,125

$9,635 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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