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Public Relations & Advertising at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
68 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
69
Optimistic
68
Base Case
65
Pessimistic
Earnings $47,972/yr (22% vs median)
AI Risk High (51% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (161,400 openings/yr)
ROI 15.3x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #4 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs Top 5%

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 $744K $716K $628K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.9x 15.3x 13.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.3x 4.2x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 62% 55% 40%
DegreeOutlook Score 69 68 65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$46,712
Out-of-state: $171,112 (4.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$78,712
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,402
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$79,337
65% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $47,972 per year, Public Relations & Advertising graduates from The University of Texas at Austin earn slightly above the $39,349 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 15.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 51% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $20,402 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #4 out of 183 programs, The University of Texas at Austin's Public Relations & Advertising program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $47,972 to $79,337 over five years (65% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About The University of Texas at Austin

A 29% acceptance rate puts The University of Texas at Austin in competitive admissions territory, with 42,100 students enrolled in Austin, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Austin →

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

Compare this program → View all 183 schools offering Public Relations & Advertising →

Public Relations & Advertising at Other Schools

Syracuse University ($54,934) Southern Methodist University ($51,828) Brigham Young University ($51,436) Assumption University ($51,114) Miami University-Hamilton ($50,700) Miami University-Middletown ($50,700) Miami University-Oxford ($50,700) National University ($50,070)

Compare Public Relations & Advertising

The University of Texas at Austin vs Brigham Young University → The University of Texas at Austin vs Miami University-Hamilton → The University of Texas at Austin vs Miami University-Middletown → The University of Texas at Austin vs Miami University-Oxford →

Other Majors at The University of Texas at Austin

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($111,587) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($96,997) Business/Commerce, General ($94,041) Chemical Engineering ($87,365) Petroleum Engineering ($86,761) Management Information Systems and Services ($86,622) Mechanical Engineering ($82,227) Finance and Financial Management Services ($81,844)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Public Relations & Advertising trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does The University of Texas at Austin's Public Relations & Advertising program score?
This program scores 68/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Public Relations & Advertising graduates.
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.
Why does The University of Texas at Austin rank so high for Public Relations & Advertising?
The #4 ranking out of 183 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →