How much do Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelor's degree graduates from Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus earn?

The reported median is $76,246 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $24,693.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 20% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelor's degree at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public

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.

$12,686 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 32.4% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: $33,115 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff: +0% · Positive 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.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$132,460

$10,000Annual price+$92,460

$20,000Annual price+$52,460

$30,000Annual price+$12,460

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

$40,000Annual price−$27,540

$50,000Annual price−$67,540

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+53%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$50,587 → $77,241

164Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

73Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

188Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

348Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$49,446Awarding-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.

597Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

153Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

150Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

398Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

2.7%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers

186Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,274Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$76,246$40,972 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 92 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$32,875

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

02 · BORROWING$24,693

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$76,246

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$262/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$32,875Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$39,694Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE60.6%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE86.1%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.

$50,587Year 1

$76,246Year 4

$77,241Year 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$6,354

Estimated loan payment$262

348borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$76,246 vs. $63,560

$12,686 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$77,790 median wagePA estimate · 1,530 jobs · 25-1122$63,630–$94,760 middle 50% of PA wages+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$57,460 median wagePA estimate · 11,180 jobs · 27-3031$45,930–$77,480 middle 50% of PA wages+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Managers$118,050 median wagePA estimate · 2,210 jobs · 11-2032$88,450–$153,950 middle 50% of PA wages+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAdvertising and Promotions Managers$122,940 median wagePA estimate · 1,540 jobs · 11-2011$72,800–$197,840 middle 50% of PA wages-3.7% projected U.S. growth · 2,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$111,280 median wagePA estimate · 1,950 jobs · 11-2033$95,400–$138,960 middle 50% of PA wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$63,730 median wagePA estimate · 6,180 jobs · 13-1131$55,230–$81,190 middle 50% of PA 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 · 1,160 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHuman Resources Managers$133,060 median wagePA estimate · 8,230 jobs · 11-3121$101,240–$174,320 middle 50% of PA wages+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 16,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTraining and Development Managers$122,150 median wagePA estimate · 1,480 jobs · 11-3131$102,780–$169,710 middle 50% of PA wages+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 4,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTechnical Writers$87,620 median wagePA estimate · 1,330 jobs · 27-3042$71,980–$105,300 middle 50% of PA wages+0.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes$82,890 median wageU.S. estimate · 12,620 jobs · 13-1011+9.7% projected U.S. growth · 2,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHealth Education Specialists$80,670 median wagePA estimate · 2,690 jobs · 21-1091$58,530–$98,010 middle 50% of PA wages+5.6% projected U.S. growth · 6,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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