Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

Bachelor's degree · Illinois State University · Normal, IL

CIP 09.09

$43,874Median earnings 1 year after graduating
$67,752Median earnings 4 years after
$62,349Median earnings 5 years after
$21,500Median federal debt
65Graduates per year

How this program compares

Graduates of the bachelor's degree program in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at Illinois State University earn a median of $43,874 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 $21,500, about 49% 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
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign
$48,063$21,875
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 Illinois State University

Frequently asked questions

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

The median salary is $43,874 one year after graduation and $62,349 after five years.

How much student debt do graduates have?

Graduates who borrowed federal loans owe a median of $21,500.

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