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Public Relations & Advertising at Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,446/yr (0% vs median)

AI Risk High (51% exposed)

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

ROI 3.2x earnings multiple

Ranked #127 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	$655K	$637K	$570K
Earnings Multiple	3.2x	3.2x	2.8x
Probability of Field Employment	62%	55%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	43	42	42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$202,040

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$131,860

35% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,125

7.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$66,212

68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,446 track close to the $39,349 national median for Public Relations & Advertising programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 3.2x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 51% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,125 debt-to-$39,446 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #127 out of 183 programs, Ithaca College's financial outcomes for Public Relations & Advertising trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $39,446 to $66,212 over five years (68% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Ithaca College

With a 70% acceptance rate, Ithaca College is moderately selective, a compact campus enrolling 4,350 students in Ithaca, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $131,860 over four years — 35% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Ithaca 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

Public Relations & Advertising at Other Schools

Other Majors at Ithaca College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ithaca College's Public Relations & Advertising program score?

This program scores 42/100 — on the lower end for Public Relations & Advertising. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Public Relations & Advertising to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Public Relations & Advertising careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 51% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

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