Public Relations & Advertising at Meredith College

Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
41
Optimistic
41
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,762/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (51% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (161,400 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #132 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 $477K $479K $456K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.7x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 62% 55% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 41 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$175,744
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$80,788
54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $40,762/yr, Public Relations & Advertising graduates from Meredith College land near the $39,349 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The financial case is thin at 2.7x — 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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $40,762 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #132 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs, Meredith College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Meredith College

With 75% of applicants admitted, Meredith College prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 1,288 students in Raleigh, NC. After financial aid, the average student pays $80,788 over four years — 54% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Meredith 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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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at Meredith College?
A score of 41/100 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 $455,507 in decade earnings vs $477,066 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Meredith College a hidden gem for Public Relations & Advertising?
After financial aid, the average student pays $80,788 over four years — 54% below the $175,744 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →