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

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

Dallas, TX · 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.

$25,770 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 22.1% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $65,825 / year
10-year scenario: +29% · 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+$263,300

$18,000Annual price+$191,300

$36,000Annual price+$119,300

$41,000Current college-wide context+$99,300

$54,000Annual price+$47,300

$72,000Annual price−$24,700

$90,000Annual price−$96,700

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+47%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$51,828 → $76,143

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

49Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

91Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

80Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$61,236Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

0Recent 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.

317Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

96Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

138Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

179Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$33,298Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$89,330$56,032 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 59 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$40,892

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

02 · BORROWING$19,750

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$89,330

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$209/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$40,892Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$85,606Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE63.3%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE84.3%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.

$51,828Year 1

$89,330Year 4

$76,143Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

2.8% 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$7,444

Estimated loan payment$209

80borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$89,330 vs. $63,560

$25,770 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$77,050 median wageTX estimate · 2,880 jobs · 25-1122+2.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePublic Relations Specialists$65,160 median wageTX estimate · 25,220 jobs · 27-3031+1.8% projected U.S. growth · 23k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePublic Relations Managers$126,670 median wageTX estimate · 8,190 jobs · 11-2032+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 6.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAdvertising and Promotions Managers$104,170 median wageTX estimate · 3,670 jobs · 11-2011-3.7% projected U.S. growth · 2.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraising Managers$96,520 median wageTX estimate · 2,560 jobs · 11-2033+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFundraisers$60,320 median wageTX estimate · 4,020 jobs · 13-1131+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 10k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$48,470 median wageTX estimate · 2,670 jobs · 27-3023-5.9% projected U.S. growth · 3.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeHuman Resources Managers$136,500 median wageTX estimate · 23,220 jobs · 11-3121+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 16.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTraining and Development Managers$124,280 median wageTX estimate · 6,190 jobs · 11-3131+6.4% projected U.S. growth · 4.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes$82,920 median wageTX estimate · 320 jobs · 13-1011+9.7% projected U.S. growth · 2.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTechnical Writers$82,750 median wageTX estimate · 3,340 jobs · 27-3042+0.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeTraining and Development Specialists$62,860 median wageTX estimate · 46,630 jobs · 13-1151+10.8% projected U.S. growth · 46k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree

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