Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degree) at Dominican University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$41,234

Est. from IL median (9 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$26,000

Est. from IL median (5 programs)

Analysis

Communications programs in Illinois show considerable spread in early outcomes, and Dominican's estimated figures fall in the middle of the pack. Based on comparable programs in the state, graduates likely earn around $41,000 in their first year—roughly on par with the state and national medians, but notably behind stronger performers like North Central ($48,500) and nearby Loyola ($43,300). The estimated $26,000 in debt translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63, below both the national and state medians for this field.

The uncertainty here matters more than usual. With nearly half of Dominican's students on Pell grants, the actual outcomes for this specific program could skew differently than the state average suggests. Communications is also a field where internship networks, alumni connections, and geographic location significantly impact early earnings—factors that won't show up in aggregate state data. Dominican's River Forest location offers proximity to Chicago's media and PR industries, which could provide advantages not captured in these estimates.

If your child is choosing between Dominican and one of Illinois' higher-earning programs in this field, the $5,000-7,000 annual earnings gap is worth considering seriously. That differential compounds over a career and affects everything from rent affordability to student loan repayment speed. Before committing, ask Dominican directly about internship placement rates and first-destination outcomes for their communications graduates specifically.

Where Dominican University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

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

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Dominican UniversityRiver Forest	$37,844	$41,234*	—	$26,000*	—
North Central CollegeNaperville	$44,394	$48,549*	$58,050	$26,899*	0.55
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign	$16,004	$48,063*	$62,665	$23,250*	0.48
Illinois State UniversityNormal	$16,021	$43,874*	$53,696	$22,500*	0.51
Loyola University ChicagoChicago	$51,716	$43,308*	$56,347	$25,000*	0.58
DePaul UniversityChicago	$44,460	$41,234*	$58,268	$24,500*	0.59
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 Dominican University, approximately 49% 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 9 similar programs in IL. Actual outcomes may vary.