On Monday, USC Annenberg School of Journalism Director Gordon Stables announced that the school’s Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising will be shortened from 36 to 30 units, according to an email sent to all first-year students in the program.
The change, which will take effect for students entering in fall 2026, eliminates six selective units but leaves required courses, core electives, specializations and thesis or comprehensive exam options unchanged.
Students who entered the program in fall 2025 will have the option to complete the degree in 30 units or continue with the original 36-unit structure.
“Given the significant costs of higher education, and the time it takes to complete a graduate degree, we’ve decided it is time to evolve,” Stables wrote in the email to students.
He said the shortened program is intended to reduce tuition costs and allow students to enter the workforce sooner. In a statement to Annenberg Media, Stables said the change is part of a regular review of the school’s graduate programs. Last year, the school’s Master of Science in Journalism degree was also shortened from 36 to 30 units.
“Our faculty regularly review all of our curriculum,” Stables said. “For our graduate and professional programs, we are always looking at how these programs can best support our students as they move in their careers.”
This adjustment comes as federal policy changes could affect how graduate students finance their education.
In a Jan. 29 press release, the U.S Department of Education announced that beginning in July 2026, new graduate students will be limited to borrowing $20,500 per year in federal student loans, with a $100,000 aggregate limit. Professional students will be limited to $50,000 per year with a $200,000 aggregate limit.
The first-year tuition for graduate students in the program is estimated at $74,010. Prior to this, graduate students could borrow up to the full cost of tuition through federal loans.
The new borrowing limits were included in the Trump’s administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which also reduces some repayment options available to borrowers.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 26% of graduate students currently borrow more than the new federal limits would allow.
USC has not said whether the program change is directly tied to the new federal loan rules. However, Stables said the school regularly reassesses program structure to ensure students are well positioned for the job market.
“In addition to providing a constantly evolving curriculum and supporting students in securing internships and jobs in our field, we think this streamlined degree program is another important step in keeping you best positioned for the job market,” Stables wrote in the email.
The USC Annenberg department of admissions did not immediately respond to a request for comment.