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Public Relations & Advertising at Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $51,828/yr (32% vs median)

AI Risk High (51% exposed)

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

ROI 2.6x earnings multiple

Ranked #59 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	$700K	$677K	$600K
Earnings Multiple	2.7x	2.6x	2.3x
Probability of Field Employment	62%	55%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	53	52	48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$257,840

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$167,112

35% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$76,143

47% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of Southern Methodist University's Public Relations & Advertising program earn $51,828/yr in their first year — 32% above the $39,349 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The financial case is thin at 2.6x — 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.

At $19,500 in median debt against $51,828 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #59 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs, Southern Methodist University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $51,828 to $76,143 over five years — a 47% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Southern Methodist University

With a 61% acceptance rate, Southern Methodist University is moderately selective, enrolling 7,106 students in Dallas, TX. The average net cost of $167,112 over four years represents a 35% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Methodist 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

Public Relations & Advertising at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southern Methodist University

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Public Relations & Advertising at Southern Methodist 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 $599,507 in decade earnings vs $700,290 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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