Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelor's degree outcomes at Emerson College

Boston, MA · 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 close to the same-degree benchmark.

$4,259 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
41.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−62% · 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$59,301 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.

+120%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$28,606$63,073
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
16Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
38Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
1Recent 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.

158Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
31Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
60Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
115Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$59,301$24,493 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 37 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$49,180

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

02 · BORROWING$24,625

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$59,301

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$261/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$49,180Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$80,399Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE51.3%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE77.1%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.

$28,606Year 1
$59,301Year 4
$63,073Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.3% 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$4,942
Estimated loan payment$261
38borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$59,301 vs. $63,560

$4,259 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$82,610 median wageMA estimate · 1,110 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$79,660 median wageMA estimate · 6,760 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Managers$171,740 median wageMA estimate · 2,170 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAdvertising and Promotions Managers$163,090 median wageMA estimate · 300 jobs · 11-2011-3.7% projected U.S. growth · 2.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$151,740 median wageMA estimate · 2,260 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$79,060 median wageMA estimate · 6,160 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 · 810 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHuman Resources Managers$181,780 median wageMA estimate · 7,540 jobs · 11-3121+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 16.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTraining and Development Managers$133,000 median wageU.S. estimate · 48,050 jobs · 11-3131+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 4.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTechnical Writers$109,200 median wageMA estimate · 1,850 jobs · 27-3042+0.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEditors$83,170 median wageMA estimate · 3,100 jobs · 27-3041-1.1% projected U.S. growth · 7.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes$82,890 median wageU.S. estimate · 80 jobs · 13-1011+9.7% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k 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.

Beverly, MA

Endicott College

$17,952 higher earnings · $8,526 lower annual net price

Earnings
$77,253
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$40,654
View outcomes →
Worcester, MA

Assumption University

$15,599 higher earnings · $19,682 lower annual net price

Earnings
$74,900
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$29,498
View outcomes →
Boston, MA

Suffolk University

$7,408 higher earnings · $19,562 lower annual net price

Earnings
$66,709
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$29,618
View outcomes →
Dallas, TX

Southern Methodist University

$30,029 higher earnings · $4,875 less debt · $8,288 lower annual net price

Earnings
$89,330
Debt
$19,750
Annual net price
$40,892
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

16 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 →