U.S. median for this major: $62,264.
College Scorecard field of study; 130 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 34% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $24,722.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $76,058. College Scorecard.
American University Public Relations and Advertising: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Public Relations and Advertising nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses American University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $23,233 | $95,023 | 2.4 years |
| $30–48k | $20,444 | $83,616 | 2.1 years |
| $48–75k | $26,035 | $106,483 | 2.6 years |
| $75–110k | $30,063 | $122,958 | 3.1 years |
| $110k+ | $53,673 | $219,523 | 5.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (72% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Public Relations and Advertising graduates 4 years after graduating ($78,410) minus $38,184 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in DC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $40,226 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Public Relations and Advertising at District of Columbia colleges
Every District of Columbia college we cover that reports Public Relations and Advertising graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Washington University | $85,459 | $23,250 | $36,586 | 84% |
| 2 | American University | $78,410 | $26,442 | $41,943 | 75% |
| 3 | Howard University | $67,881 | $26,000 | $50,539 | 70% |
Careers for Public Relations and Advertising graduates
Public relations specialist
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +1.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Training and Development Specialists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +10.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Human Resources Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +5.5% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at American University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About American University
- Acceptance rate: 62% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $77,370
- Full cost breakdown · all 44 majors · overview
Related majors at American University
- Communications$67,863
- Journalism$66,635
American University Public Relations and Advertising questions
How much do American University Public Relations and Advertising graduates earn?
Public Relations and Advertising graduates of American University earn a median $78,410 four years after graduating and $50,026 one year after. The U.S. median for Public Relations and Advertising graduates across 173 colleges is $62,264.
How much debt do American University Public Relations and Advertising graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Public Relations and Advertising graduates of American University is $26,442, about 34% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $24,722.
Is American University a good school for Public Relations and Advertising in District of Columbia?
On pay, Public Relations and Advertising graduates of American University earn $78,410 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 3 District of Columbia colleges ($78,410) and $16,146 above the U.S. median ($62,264). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does American University rank for Public Relations and Advertising in District of Columbia?
Of 3 District of Columbia colleges reporting Public Relations and Advertising graduate earnings, American University ranks 2nd. The highest is George Washington University at $85,459.
What jobs do Public Relations and Advertising graduates get?
A common career is public relations specialist, with a median wage of $101,680 in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area and $74,750 nationally. Others include training and development specialists and human resources managers.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “American University Public Relations and Advertising: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/american-university/majors/public-relations-and-advertising (College Scorecard and BLS data).