Location: Cedar Falls, IA•In-State Tuition: $9,728•Out-of-State Tuition: $21,272•Admission Rate: 94%•Avg SAT: 1120
Median Earnings (1yr)
$43,755
80th percentile
60th percentile in Iowa
Median Debt
$21,096
14% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.48 ManageableSample: 44 graduates

Analysis

Northern Iowa graduates earn nearly $4,000 more in their first year than the typical communications graduate nationally—placing this program in the 80th percentile. Within Iowa, where several strong programs compete, UNI trails only Drake by about $700 and sits comfortably in the middle of the pack. The debt burden of $21,096 is notably lighter than both the national median ($24,625) and state median ($24,000), creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 that should allow most graduates to manage repayment comfortably.

The 11% earnings growth to $48,546 by year four demonstrates steady career progression, and the combination of strong initial placement with manageable debt makes this program particularly compelling at UNI's accessible admission standards. While Drake edges ahead in earnings, that advantage needs to be weighed against likely higher tuition costs. For in-state students, this represents efficient workforce preparation in a competitive field—you're getting above-average outcomes at below-average debt levels from a program that accepts nearly all applicants.

Where University of Northern Iowa Stands

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

University of Northern IowaOther public relations, advertising, and applied communication programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Northern Iowa graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Northern Iowa earns $44k — 80th percentile among public relations, advertising, and applied communication bachelors programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Northern Iowa$43,755$48,546+11%
Drake University$44,492$58,012+30%
Coe College$40,167$57,149+42%
Iowa State University$42,530$53,543+26%
Loras College$40,938$49,138+20%

Compare to Similar Programs in Iowa

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Iowa (17 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Northern IowaCedar Falls$9,728$43,755$48,546$21,0960.48
Drake UniversityDes Moines$49,944$44,492$58,012$23,2500.52
Iowa State UniversityAmes$10,497$42,530$53,543$24,7500.58
Simpson CollegeIndianola$46,212$41,925———
Loras CollegeDubuque$38,298$40,938$49,138$26,5810.65
Coe CollegeCedar Rapids$52,576$40,167$57,149——
National Median—$39,794—$24,6250.62

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 Northern Iowa, approximately 24% 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 44 graduates with reported earnings and 46 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.