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

Washington, DC · 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.

$14,850 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 33.7% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $38,525 / year
10-year scenario: −4% · 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.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$154,100

$12,000Annual price+$106,100

$24,000Annual price+$58,100

$36,000Annual price+$10,100

$42,000Current college-wide context−$13,900

$48,000Annual price−$37,900

$60,000Annual price−$85,900

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+90%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$50,026 → $94,957

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

21Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

119Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$85,388Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$41,943

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

02 · BORROWING$26,442

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$78,410

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$280/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$41,943Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$76,058Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE62.0%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE75.5%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.

$50,026Year 1

$78,410Year 4

$94,957Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.3% 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$6,534

Estimated loan payment$280

119borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$78,410 vs. $63,560

$14,850 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$83,910 median wageDC estimate · 180 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$102,740 median wageDC estimate · 16,720 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Managers$197,600 median wageDC estimate · 7,410 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAdvertising and Promotions Managers$143,040 median wageDC estimate · 80 jobs · 11-2011-3.7% projected U.S. growth · 2.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$141,720 median wageDC estimate · 800 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$105,390 median wageDC estimate · 1,720 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$80,840 median wageDC estimate · 2,350 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHuman Resources Managers$184,350 median wageDC estimate · 2,250 jobs · 11-3121+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 16.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTraining and Development Managers$141,710 median wageDC estimate · 210 jobs · 11-3131+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 4.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTechnical Writers$117,810 median wageDC estimate · 440 jobs · 27-3042+0.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHealth Education Specialists$103,330 median wageDC estimate · 680 jobs · 21-1091+5.6% projected U.S. growth · 6.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$83,920 median wageDC estimate · 3,310 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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