WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+1% vs national median1,468 grads tracked

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Illinois State University

Ranked 21st of 79 bachelor's programs in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$41,885
middle 50%: $31,677 – $51,357
Median · 5 years out
$63,807
middle 50%: $50,002 – $80,720
Median · 10 years out
$81,094
middle 50%: $59,305 – $108,527

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 Illinois State University's bachelor's program in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication earn a median $41,885 one year after graduating, rising to $81,094 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 1% above the national median of $62,871 for this field, ranking 21st 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
6.7 yrs
≈ $7,790 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
University of Texas at Arlington
$64,280 · 5 yrs out
University of Houston
$63,978 · 5 yrs out
Concordia College - Moorhead
$63,451 · 5 yrs out
Weber State University
$63,004 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$62,871 · 5 yrs out
Ball State University
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at San Antonio
$62,344 · 5 yrs out
Augsburg University
$62,322 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Illinois State University

Education (Doctorate)
$110,151 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$110,004 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$100,616 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$94,916 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$93,908 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$92,435 · 5 yrs out
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's)
$91,685 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$91,592 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$89,527 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$88,197 · 5 yrs out
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctorate)
$87,772 · 5 yrs out

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