Bachelor's-2% vs national median3,444 grads tracked
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at University of South Carolina - Columbia
Ranked 31st of 79 bachelor's programs in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$40,319
middle 50%: $29,883 – $50,312
Median · 5 years out
$61,474
middle 50%: $45,819 – $81,869
Median · 10 years out
$75,020
middle 50%: $53,951 – $107,801
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 majors earn a $40k median salary in year one. Ten-year earnings reach $75k.
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
≈ $8,127 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
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
Winona State University
$61,397 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
$61,155 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$61,142 · 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
Other majors at University of South Carolina - Columbia
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$176,841 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$168,157 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,126 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$150,876 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$129,928 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$122,810 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,242 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$114,563 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$102,325 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$100,689 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$100,245 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$99,491 · 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