Bachelor's+36% vs national median1,021 grads tracked
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at University of Colorado Boulder
Ranked 1st of 79 bachelor's programs in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$47,550
middle 50%: $35,424 – $61,350
Median · 5 years out
$85,274
middle 50%: $61,951 – $112,674
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication graduates at CU Boulder earn a median $48k in year one. Salaries jump to $85k by year five.
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
5.4 yrs
≈ $6,297 total interest
Same major at other universities
Miami University
$81,760 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Austin
$81,061 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$78,953 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$78,752 · 5 yrs out
Quinnipiac University
$78,691 · 5 yrs out
Fashion Institute of Technology
$74,419 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$73,143 · 5 yrs out
University of Oregon
$72,452 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$72,343 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$72,294 · 5 yrs out
Elmhurst University
$70,944 · 5 yrs out
Penn State World Campus
$68,702 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Colorado Boulder
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$179,121 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$162,413 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$136,557 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$134,060 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$121,503 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$121,397 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$118,475 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$115,546 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$112,642 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Doctorate)
$111,405 · 5 yrs out
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering (Bachelor's)
$111,066 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$104,453 · 5 yrs out
Related fields of study
Communication and Media Studies
Compare universities
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Compare universities
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
Compare universities
Journalism
Compare universities
Publishing
Compare universities
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
Compare universities