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Public Relations & Advertising at Emerson College

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,606/yr (-27% vs median)

AI Risk High (51% exposed)

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

ROI 3.0x earnings multiple

Ranked #179 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs

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	$691K	$668K	$593K
Earnings Multiple	3.1x	3.0x	2.7x
Probability of Field Employment	62%	55%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	28	28	32

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$221,568

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$187,064

16% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,719

9.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$63,073

120% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $28,606 per year, Public Relations & Advertising graduates from Emerson College earn below the $39,349 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The financial case is thin at 3.0x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,719 represents roughly 10 months of the $28,606 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #179 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs, Emerson College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $63,073 show a 120% jump from the $28,606 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Emerson College

Emerson College accepts 47% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a smaller student body of 4,145 in Boston, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Emerson College →

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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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at Emerson College?

A score of 28/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Public Relations & Advertising. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $593,221 in decade earnings vs $690,547 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Public Relations & Advertising from Emerson College?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

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