Certificate (under 1 year)0% vs national median377 grads tracked
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Northern Arizona University
Ranked 2nd of 3 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$43,422
middle 50%: $31,988 – $57,552
Median · 5 years out
$62,949
middle 50%: $46,880 – $83,978
Median · 10 years out
$81,500
middle 50%: $59,253 – $140,814
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Public Relations certificate holders earn a median $43k initially. Five-year earnings reach $63k, and ten-year median pay is $82k.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
6.7 yrs
≈ $7,695 total interest
Same major at other universities
Other majors at Northern Arizona University
Education (Doctorate)
$117,305 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,278 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$104,850 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$104,039 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$102,565 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Analysis (Bachelor's)
$99,535 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,275 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$94,855 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,889 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$88,716 · 5 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctorate)
$88,031 · 5 yrs out
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