College Scorecard program reportCIP 9.09 · UNITID 131159

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

Bachelor's Degree · Washington, DC

At American University, the Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelor's degree program reported $78,410 median earnings four years after completion and $26,442 median federal debt among 130 working graduates.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 releaseDownload source data ↗

Median earnings$78,410Working graduates four years after completion

Median federal debt$26,442Stafford and Grad PLUS debt for the program cohort

Working graduates130Four-year earnings cohort

Peer records72Same field and credential passing the evidence rule

01 · Published outcomes

How much do Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication graduates at American University earn and borrow?

Four-year median earnings were $78,410, five-year median earnings were $94,957, and median federal debt was $26,442 for the published program cohorts.

Median earnings four years after completion$78,410

Median earnings five years after completion$94,957

Earnings cover graduates who were working and not enrolled. Median debt uses a separate federal borrower cohort and is not a yearly payment.

02 · Same-field context

How does American University’s Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication program compare?

Among 72 published bachelor's degree records in this field, earnings ranked at the 88th percentile and debt was lower than about 11% of peers.

Four-year earnings percentile88th

Higher earnings than about 88% of published same-field, same-credential records.

Debt position11%

Lower median debt than about 11% of published same-field, same-credential records.

Percentiles describe this published peer group; they are not a rating of instruction, selectivity, or individual outcomes.

03 · Comparison records

Which colleges publish Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication for the same credential?

The comparison group contains 72 institution-program records with the same field and credential, at least 75 working graduates, and published earnings and debt.

Open the national Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication field report →

04 · Institution context

Where can I find American University cost and completion data?

The American University institution report publishes school-level net price, completion, retention, undergraduate aid, and debt; those measures use cohorts separate from this program’s earnings and debt cohorts.

American University

Washington, District of Columbia · Private nonprofit

Open the institution report →

Answers at a glance

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication at American University: frequently asked questions

The program FAQ reports $78,410 four-year median earnings, $26,442 median federal debt, 130 working graduates, and 72 same-field peer records.

How much do graduates of this Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication program earn?

Median earnings were $78,410 four years after completion and $94,957 five years after completion for working graduates who were not enrolled.

What is the median federal debt for this Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication program?

The published median federal debt was $26,442 across a reported debt cohort of 119 borrowers.

How is the peer group selected?

Peers share CIP field 9.09 and the Bachelor's Degree credential level, have at least 75 working graduates, and have published earnings and debt medians.