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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$46,518

91st percentile

60th percentile in Ohio

Median Debt

$42,017

71% above national median

Analysis

Franklin University's PR and advertising program stands out nationally but carries a significant cost burden. Graduates earn $46,518 in their first year—outperforming 91% of similar programs nationwide and exceeding the national median by $6,700. In Ohio, the picture is more nuanced: earnings land at the 60th percentile among 30 in-state options, trailing the top Miami University programs by about $4,000 but still ahead of the state median.

The challenge is debt. At $42,017, graduates leave with nearly double the national median for this field and substantially more than Ohio's typical $26,500. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.90 is manageable—meaning debt equals less than a year's salary—this is a premium price for mid-tier Ohio outcomes. The modest 7% earnings growth to year four suggests steady but unspectacular career progression.

For families weighing this investment, Franklin delivers strong national results that justify higher debt better than most programs, but Ohio residents should carefully compare costs against public alternatives like Bowling Green, which produces similar earnings at likely lower expense. If Franklin's format (designed for working adults) fits your child's situation, the outcomes support the investment. Otherwise, this is a case where the sticker price matters.

Where Franklin University Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Franklin University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Franklin University	$46,518	$49,680	+7%
Miami University-Middletown	$50,700	$65,121	+28%
Miami University-Oxford	$50,700	$65,121	+28%
Miami University-Hamilton	$50,700	$65,121	+28%
Otterbein University	$37,430	$54,544	+46%

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (30 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Franklin UniversityColumbus	$9,577	$46,518	$49,680	$42,017	0.90
Miami University-OxfordOxford	$17,809	$50,700	$65,121	$25,000	0.49
Miami University-HamiltonHamilton	$7,278	$50,700	$65,121	$25,000	0.49
Miami University-MiddletownMiddletown	$7,278	$50,700	$65,121	$25,000	0.49
Capital UniversityColumbus	$41,788	$45,235	$46,188	$27,000	0.60
Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green	$14,081	$42,296	$48,266	$22,519	0.53
National Median	—	$39,794	—	$24,625	0.62

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 Franklin University, approximately 33% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 33 graduates with reported earnings and 41 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.