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Public Relations & Advertising at Auburn University

Auburn, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $41,458/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (51% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (161,400 openings/yr)

ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #57 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Public Relations & Advertising graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$536K	$531K	$493K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.7x	10.6x	9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.9x	3.9x	3.6x
Probability of Field Employment	62%	55%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	53	52	51

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,144

Out-of-state: $135,776 (3.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$95,588

-91% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,000

6.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$53,562

29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $41,458/yr, edging above the $39,349 national average for Public Relations & Advertising — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Public Relations & Advertising programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Public Relations & Advertising's typical career paths, with 51% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,458 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #57 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs, Auburn University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $41,458 to $53,562 over five years — a 29% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Auburn University

With a 50% acceptance rate, Auburn University is moderately selective, with 25,732 students enrolled in Auburn, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at Auburn University →

Top Career Paths

Human resources managers $140,030/yr

Public relations managers $138,520/yr

Training and development managers $127,090/yr

View all 17 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at Auburn University?

A score of 52/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Public Relations & Advertising field.

Will AI replace Public Relations & Advertising careers?

With 51% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $493,310 in decade earnings vs $535,671 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →