Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

Bachelor's degree · University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

CIP 09.09

$48,063Median earnings 1 year after graduating
$83,451Median earnings 4 years after
$75,277Median earnings 5 years after
$21,875Median federal debt
191Graduates per year

How this program compares

Graduates of the bachelor's degree program in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earn a median of $48,063 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 $21,875, about 46% of first-year earnings – a manageable level by common guidelines.

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

CollegeEarnings (1 yr)Median debt
North Central College
Naperville
$48,549$20,649
Illinois State University
Normal
$43,874$21,500
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago
$43,308$23,250
DePaul University
Chicago
$41,234$22,332
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago
$39,794$24,225
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston
$38,369$23,250
Bradley University
Peoria
$38,351$25,000
Lewis University
Romeoville
$24,202—

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

Other programs at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Frequently asked questions

How much do Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication graduates from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign make?

The median salary is $48,063 one year after graduation and $75,277 after five years.

How much student debt do graduates have?

Graduates who borrowed federal loans owe a median of $21,875.

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