Advertising Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Creation and management of marketing campaigns to promote products and services.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$75K
salary
ROI Payback
5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
3.5%
rate
Advertising Overview
Creation and management of marketing campaigns to promote products and services.
Category
Communications
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
68%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
20%
Lifetime Premium
$450K
Female Graduates
62%
Advertising Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$16,650
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$16,650
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$433,350
Lifetime earnings premium ($450,000) minus net degree cost ($16,650)
Advertising Salary Progression
Common Advertising Careers
Advertising Account Executive
Creative Director
Media Planner
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Advertising
#1
University of Texas
#2
University of Illinois
#3
Syracuse
#4
VCU Brandcenter
#5
University of Florida
Related Majors
Advertising Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Advertising Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for advertising programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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