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

Median Earnings (1yr)

$42,099

72nd percentile

60th percentile in Florida

Median Debt

$17,439

29% below national median

Analysis

University of Florida's PR and communications program stands out for delivering strong earnings growth while keeping debt remarkably low. Graduates earn $42,099 in their first year—well above the national median of $39,794 and significantly higher than Florida's $36,000 median. More impressive is the 39% earnings jump to $58,636 by year four, suggesting this program opens doors to career advancement that many communications programs don't provide.

The debt picture is particularly compelling. At $17,439, UF graduates carry about $7,000 less debt than the national median and nearly $1,000 less than the Florida average. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.41—meaning graduates can realistically pay off their loans in under a year of full earnings. Among Florida's PR programs, UF ranks competitively in the 60th percentile for earnings while maintaining one of the lowest debt loads.

For parents worried about communications degrees leading to financial struggle, UF's program offers reassurance. The combination of strong starting salaries, excellent growth trajectory, and minimal debt creates a foundation for financial stability that's rare in this field. The program's selectivity and UF's reputation likely contribute to these outcomes, making this a smart choice for students serious about communications careers.

Where University of Florida Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How University of Florida 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
University of Florida	$42,099	$58,636	+39%
University of Miami	$43,917	$61,959	+41%
University of Florida-Online	$42,099	$58,636	+39%
The University of Tampa	$36,977	$57,182	+55%
Florida State University	$41,060	$51,082	+24%

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

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

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
University of FloridaGainesville	$6,381	$42,099	$58,636	$17,439	0.41
University of MiamiCoral Gables	$59,926	$43,917	$61,959	$18,000	0.41
University of Florida-OnlineGainesville	$3,876	$42,099	$58,636	$17,439	0.41
Florida State UniversityTallahassee	$5,656	$41,060	$51,082	$13,849	0.34
University of Central FloridaOrlando	$6,368	$37,388	$44,367	$18,750	0.50
The University of TampaTampa	$33,424	$36,977	$57,182	$25,000	0.68
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 University of Florida, approximately 22% 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 403 graduates with reported earnings and 322 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.