Advertising: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Advertising is a dynamic field centered on the strategic development and deployment of persuasive communication across diverse media platforms to influence consumer behavior and drive brand engagement. This program equips learners with the analytical, creative, and technical competencies required to design, manage, and assess effective advertising campaigns in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
- Advertising Theory: Explores foundational concepts behind consumer motivation, message framing, and the psychological impact of visual and verbal communication in marketing contexts.
- Marketing Strategy: Focuses on aligning advertising efforts with broader business objectives, market segmentation, target audience identification, and competitive positioning.
- Advertising Design and Production Methods: Teaches visual storytelling, layout principles, copywriting techniques, and the use of digital tools to craft compelling and brand-consistent content.
- Campaign Methods and Techniques: Covers the full lifecycle of advertising initiatives—from concept development and messaging refinement to implementation and performance tracking across channels.
- Media Management: Involves evaluating and selecting optimal platforms—print, broadcast, digital, social, and emerging media—based on audience reach, cost efficiency, and campaign goals.
- Business Management Principles: Provides insight into budgeting, project coordination, client relations, and organizational structures essential for advertising professionals in real-world settings.
- Technical and Equipment Skills: Develops hands-on proficiency with industry-standard software, production tools, analytics platforms, and multimedia equipment used in modern advertising workflows.
Advertising Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Advertising Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Advertising degrees, including Advertising and Promotions Managers and Communications Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 50,360 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising and Promotions Managers 11-2011 | $126,960 | $63,000 - $239,200 | 21,100 | $61.04 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1122 | $77,800 | $47,100 - $160,210 | 29,260 | N/A |
Advertising Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $40,130 in Hawaii to $144,290 in New York—a 260% difference. The highest-paying states include New York, California, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 50,360 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Advertising by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 94 institutions offering Advertising programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Advertising is found at Michigan State University (MSU) (471 graduates), The University of Texas, Austin (327 graduates), University of Oregon (UO) (257 graduates), Boston University (BU) (216 graduates), and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) (202 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 4,308 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
471 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
327 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
257 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
216 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
202 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Residency
|
180 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
155 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Bachelor's
|
155 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
153 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
|
134 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
131 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
126 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
126 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
107 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
103 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
|
86 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
81 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
80 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
70 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
|
68 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
62 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Pace University |
Bachelor's
|
56 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Bachelor's
|
45 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Santa Monica College (SMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
43 | Santa Monica, California | Public | smc.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
37 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| Siena College |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Loudonville, New York | Private | siena.edu |
| University of Florida (UF Online) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufonline.ufl.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Keiser University |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | keiseruniversity.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
26 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) |
Master's
|
25 | New York, New York | Private | sva.edu |
| University of Southern Indiana (USI) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Evansville, Indiana | Public | usi.edu |
| Suffolk University |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | suffolk.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Universidad del Sagrado Corazon |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Santurce, Puerto Rico | Private | sagrado.edu |
| Pepperdine University |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Malibu, California | Private | pepperdine.edu |
| University of San Francisco (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | San Francisco, California | Private | usfca.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| University of Scranton |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | scranton.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Columbia College Chicago (CCC) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | colum.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Palomar College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | San Marcos, California | Public | www2.palomar.edu |
| Webster University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | webster.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | jwu.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| University of St Thomas |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stthomas.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRC) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Public | uprc.edu |
| Drake University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Other Award
|
9 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Murray State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
| Xavier University (XU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | xavier.edu |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | online.jwu.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Lindenwood University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Saint Charles, Missouri | Private | lindenwood.edu |
| Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) |
Associate's
|
6 | Utica, New York | Public | mvcc.edu |
| Del Mar College (DMC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Public | delmar.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | Private | pucpr.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Other Award
|
4 | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| Kean University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Lee University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Cleveland, Tennessee | Private | leeuniversity.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
3 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| Oklahoma Christian University (OC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Private | oc.edu |
| Gannon University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Private | gannon.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWO) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Public | uwosh.edu |
| Scottsdale Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | scottsdalecc.edu |
| Wesleyan College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Macon, Georgia | Private | wesleyancollege.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
2 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| Santiago Canyon College (SCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Orange, California | Public | sccollege.edu |
| Pennsylvania Highlands Community College |
Associate's
|
2 | Johnstown, Pennsylvania | Public | pennhighlands.edu |
| Pacific Union College (PUC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Angwin, California | Private | puc.edu |
| North Park University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | northpark.edu |
| North Central Michigan College (NCMC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1 | Petoskey, Michigan | Public | ncmich.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Other Award
|
1 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Public | behrend.psu.edu |
| Waynesburg University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Waynesburg, Pennsylvania | Private | waynesburg.edu |
| Southern Adventist University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Collegedale, Tennessee | Private | southern.edu |
| Lamar University (LU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lamar.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Skagit Valley College (SVC) |
Other Award
|
1 | Mount Vernon, Washington | Public | skagit.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Advertising programs
How much can I earn with a Advertising degree?
Salaries for Advertising graduates vary by role and location. Advertising and Promotions Managers earn a median of $126,960 annually, while Communications Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $77,800. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in New York average $144,290 compared to $40,130 in Hawaii. Approximately 50,360 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Advertising programs?
Currently 94 accredited institutions offer Advertising degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Michigan State University (MSU) (471 graduates), The University of Texas, Austin (327 graduates), and University of Oregon (UO) (257 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Advertising growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 5,857 in 2010 to a peak of 4,771 in 2020, before declining slightly to 4,308 in 2023-24. This represents a 26% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Advertising degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Advertising and Promotions Managers, Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, . Related occupations employ approximately 50,360 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Related Communication Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Communication field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Political Communication
A program that focuses on human and media communication in the political process and that prepares individuals to function as members of political...
Health Communication
A program that focuses on how people, individually and collectively, understand and accommodate to health and illness and the role of communication and...
Sports Communication
A program that focuses on the methods and techniques for communicating about sports in a variety of formats, media, and contexts; and that...
International and Intercultural Communication
A program that focuses on the specialized knowledge and skills needed for effective communication in the international community and among people of different...
Technical and Scientific Communication
A program that focuses on the communication of technical and scientific knowledge to a variety of audiences through print, video, and digital media;...
Communication Management and Strategic Communication
A program that focuses on the critical thinking, analysis, and practical skills essential to developing and implementing communication strategies that advance organizations goals...