Bachelor's-3% vs national median1,402 grads tracked
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Iowa State University of Science & Technology
Ranked 34th of 79 bachelor's programs in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$40,673
middle 50%: $30,880 – $50,108
Median · 5 years out
$61,142
middle 50%: $48,812 – $77,553
Median · 10 years out
$76,823
middle 50%: $57,175 – $103,640
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 and Advertising graduates earn $41k in their first year. Median pay increases to $61k at five years and $77k at ten years.
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
6.9 yrs
≈ $8,109 total interest
Same major at other universities
Texas State University
$62,235 · 5 yrs out
University of North Texas
$61,969 · 5 yrs out
Southeast Missouri State University
$61,594 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$61,474 · 5 yrs out
Winona State University
$61,397 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
$61,155 · 5 yrs out
Wright State University
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
Hampton University
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego)
$60,099 · 5 yrs out
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
$60,004 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$59,943 · 5 yrs out
Lewis University
$59,848 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Iowa State University of Science & Technology
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$147,324 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$146,317 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$136,278 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$118,825 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$116,045 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$115,806 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Doctorate)
$113,881 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$110,315 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$107,785 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$107,597 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$104,160 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$104,015 · 5 yrs out
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