WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+13% vs national median228 grads tracked

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Elmhurst University

Ranked 12th of 79 bachelor's programs in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$56,877
middle 50%: $40,342 – $78,794
Median · 5 years out
$70,944
middle 50%: $50,026 – $93,487
Median · 10 years out
$86,929
middle 50%: $60,272 – $122,926

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

Graduates of Elmhurst University's bachelor's program in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication earn a median $56,877 one year after graduating, rising to $86,929 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% above the national median of $62,871 for this field, ranking 12th of 79 reporting programs.

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
5.6 yrs
≈ $6,136 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
Penn State World Campus
$68,702 · 5 yrs out
Butler University
$67,226 · 5 yrs out
Texas Tech University
$66,216 · 5 yrs out
College of Saint Scholastica
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Dominican University
$65,035 · 5 yrs out
Kennesaw State University
$64,734 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Elmhurst University

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$118,787 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$113,771 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$111,686 · 5 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Master's)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$91,818 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$90,251 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$89,645 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Master's)
$88,942 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's)
$85,633 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$84,610 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$82,708 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$79,471 · 5 yrs out

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