WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-16% vs national median958 grads tracked

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

Ranked 71st of 79 bachelor's programs in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$39,146
middle 50%: $27,912 – $51,789
Median · 5 years out
$52,670
middle 50%: $40,009 – $69,991
Median · 10 years out
$61,332
middle 50%: $46,612 – $85,416

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 Cleveland State University's bachelor's program in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication earn a median $39,146 one year after graduating, rising to $61,332 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 16% below the national median of $62,871 for this field, ranking 71st 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
7.9 yrs
≈ $9,109 total interest

Same major at other universities

Monmouth College
$54,589 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$54,487 · 5 yrs out
Northwest Missouri State University
$54,322 · 5 yrs out
University of Akron (The)
$53,725 · 5 yrs out
University of Central Oklahoma
$53,696 · 5 yrs out
Winthrop University
$52,920 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$52,636 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University - Commerce
$52,165 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
$51,223 · 5 yrs out
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$51,083 · 5 yrs out
Youngstown State University
$50,767 · 5 yrs out
University of Southern Indiana
$48,789 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Cleveland State University

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$108,696 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$108,180 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$106,123 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$101,595 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$99,736 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,987 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$91,768 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$91,213 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$91,213 · 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