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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$41,165

63rd percentile

60th percentile in Pennsylvania

Median Debt

$26,000

6% above national median

Analysis

Temple University's communications program stands out for its strong earnings trajectory, with graduates seeing their income jump 31% from $41,165 to $53,863 between years one and four—well above typical growth patterns for this field. More importantly, Temple outperforms both national and Pennsylvania competitors, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide and 63rd percentile nationally, with first-year earnings that beat the national median by over $1,300.

The debt picture is particularly encouraging. At $26,000, graduates carry a manageable debt load that represents just 63% of their first-year salary—well below the concerning 1.0 threshold many financial advisors cite. Temple also ranks in the favorable 26th percentile nationally for debt levels, meaning most comparable programs saddle students with more borrowing. Among Pennsylvania schools, Temple leads established competitors like Drexel ($37,125) and Duquesne ($39,651) in first-year outcomes.

With a robust sample size of 100+ graduates providing reliable data, this program delivers solid returns for a communications degree. The combination of reasonable debt, above-average starting salaries, and strong earning potential by year four makes Temple's program a smart choice for students serious about breaking into PR, advertising, or communications work.

Where Temple University Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Temple 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
Temple University	$41,165	$53,863	+31%
University of Scranton	$35,568	$55,313	+56%
York College of Pennsylvania	$36,557	$51,838	+42%
Point Park University	$32,495	$50,769	+56%
Duquesne University	$39,651	$49,016	+24%

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (29 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia	$22,082	$41,165	$53,863	$26,000	0.63
Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh	$47,146	$39,651	$49,016	$26,000	0.66
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia	$60,663	$37,125	—	$27,000	0.73
Susquehanna UniversitySelinsgrove	$57,400	$36,632	$48,622	$27,000	0.74
York College of PennsylvaniaYork	$24,606	$36,557	$51,838	$25,724	0.70
University of ScrantonScranton	$52,309	$35,568	$55,313	$26,000	0.73
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 Temple University, approximately 30% 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 456 graduates with reported earnings and 473 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.