Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degree) at Columbia College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,993

Est. from MO median (8 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$23,250

Est. from MO median (3 programs)

Analysis

Drawing on comparable communications programs across Missouri, this bachelor's degree appears to follow the state pattern for the field—estimated first-year earnings around $38,000 with debt near $23,000. That 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in reasonable territory, meaning graduates would owe roughly seven months' salary, though they'd still face a tight financial stretch in those early career years when entry-level PR and marketing positions rarely offer much cushion.

The challenge is that several Missouri schools with reported outcomes show their communications graduates earning $2,000-$4,000 more than what peer programs suggest for Columbia College. Webster and Missouri State both break $40,000 in first-year earnings, which matters when you're budgeting loan payments on an entry-level salary. With 44% of students receiving Pell grants, Columbia College serves many families who can't easily absorb the difference if actual outcomes fall short of these peer-based estimates.

The real question is whether this specific program can match or exceed what similar Missouri programs produce. Without actual graduate data, you're banking on an unknown. If your child is already admitted elsewhere with transparent outcomes data—particularly the state schools showing stronger early earnings—those programs offer more certainty for roughly the same investment.

Where Columbia College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all public relations, advertising, and applied communication bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Missouri

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Missouri (23 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Columbia CollegeColumbia	$24,326	$37,993*	—	$23,250*	—
Webster UniversitySaint Louis	$30,730	$42,421*	$45,908	—*	—
Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfield	$9,024	$40,178*	$46,066	$23,329*	0.58
Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau	$9,496	$40,127*	$51,191	$25,000*	0.62
University of Central MissouriWarrensburg	$9,739	$39,401*	$43,229	$26,000*	0.66
Evangel UniversitySpringfield	$27,192	$36,585*	—	—*	—
National Median	—	$39,794*	—	$24,625*	0.62

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with public relations, advertising, and applied communication graduates

Advertising and Promotions Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Public Relations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities designed to create or maintain a favorable public image or raise issue awareness for their organization or client.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraising Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Technical Writers

Write technical materials, such as equipment manuals, appendices, or operating and maintenance instructions. May assist in layout work.

$91,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Editors

Plan, coordinate, revise, or edit written material. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication.

$75,260/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Public Relations Specialists

Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.

$69,780/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraisers

Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.

$66,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Specialists

Design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.

$65,850/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Health Education Specialists

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Use data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies, and environments. May link health systems, health providers, insurers, and patients to address individual and population health needs. May serve as resource to assist individuals, other health professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

$63,000/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Columbia College, approximately 44% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 8 similar programs in MO. Actual outcomes may vary.