Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

Bachelor's degree · San Diego State University · San Diego, CA

CIP 09.09

$44,197Median earnings 1 year after graduating
$67,414Median earnings 4 years after
$69,123Median earnings 5 years after
$16,111Median federal debt
34Graduates per year

How this program compares

Graduates of the bachelor's degree program in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at San Diego State University earn a median of $44,197 one year after completing the program. Nationally, bachelor's degree graduates in this field earn a median of $63,560 four years after graduating (middle half: $45,857–$83,689). Median debt is $16,111, about 36% of first-year earnings – a manageable level by common guidelines.

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's degree) at other California schools

CollegeEarnings (1 yr)Median debt
National University
San Diego
$50,070$27,688
University of Southern California
Los Angeles
$50,041$19,500
Pepperdine University
Malibu
$45,988$24,112
Chapman University
Orange
$40,141$22,250
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson
$38,798$13,375
University of San Francisco
San Francisco
$37,856$24,000
Biola University
La Mirada
$36,319$20,000
California Baptist University
Riverside
$32,782$23,000
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach
$28,226$22,976

Highest-paying Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication programs nationwide →

Other programs at San Diego State University

Frequently asked questions

How much do Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication graduates from San Diego State University make?

The median salary is $44,197 one year after graduation and $69,123 after five years.

How much student debt do graduates have?

Graduates who borrowed federal loans owe a median of $16,111.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release (Field of Study data). Earnings are for graduates who received federal financial aid.