Home › University of Nebraska-Lincoln › Public Relations & Advertising

Public Relations & Advertising at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $42,168/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk High (51% exposed)

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

ROI 14.0x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #24 of 183 Public Relations & Advertising programs Top 25%

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	$577K	$568K	$520K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.3x	14.0x	12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.2x	5.1x	4.7x
Probability of Field Employment	62%	55%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	58	57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$40,432

Out-of-state: $110,992 (5.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$69,696

-72% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,102

6.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,750

39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $42,168 per year, Public Relations & Advertising graduates from University of Nebraska-Lincoln earn slightly above the $39,349 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Public Relations & Advertising programs nationally.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,102 represents roughly 6 months of the $42,168 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #24 of 183 nationally, this is a top-5% Public Relations & Advertising program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $42,168 to $58,750 over five years — a 39% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Nebraska-Lincoln

With 77% of applicants admitted, University of Nebraska-Lincoln prioritizes broad access, serving 18,887 students in Lincoln, NE.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Nebraska-Lincoln →

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 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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 University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

A score of 58/100 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 $520,095 in decade earnings vs $577,191 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Public Relations & Advertising program stand out?

Ranked #24 of 183 programs nationally, University of Nebraska-Lincoln lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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