How Much Do Yearbook Ads Raise?
Entourage Shares the Numbers as It Launches a New Ad Designer
At most middle and high schools, yearbook ads cover 20 to 30 percent of the cost of the book, and some schools raise two to three times more from ads than from selling the books themselves. That's according to Entourage Yearbooks, which this fall made its redesigned EDONext Ad Designer the default for its schools. The new designer works on phones and tablets, so parents, grandparents and local businesses can create an ad on the device they already use.
"Most yearbook companies treat ads as a nice fundraiser," said Elias Jo, CEO of Entourage Yearbooks. "We see them as recognition: a way for a family, and a whole community, to celebrate a student in the one book everyone keeps."
Why do yearbooks have ads?
Ads have been part of the yearbook for more than a century. Every copy of the University of Puget Sound's Tamanawas in the school's archives, going back to 1913, ends with a full section of ads (Puget Sound Archives). At Granby Memorial High School in Connecticut, local businesses have bought space since the school's first yearbook in 1958, and two of them were still advertising in 2024 (Granby Drummer).
The bigger change came in the 1990s, when families started buying ads too. At Granby, parent ads congratulating graduates became "a new revenue source [that] helped the yearbook staff's budget while adding a personal touch." Today these parent ads, also called shout-out or senior tribute ads, are the heart of most yearbook ad programs.
Entourage has offered a yearbook ad program since it launched its EDO design platform in 2010. In 2024 EDO became EDONext. Schools sell two kinds of ads, parent ads and business ads, and set the ad sizes they offer.
"Parents, grandparents, even brothers and sisters can create a shout-out with their own photos," Jo said. "It turns part of the book into a personalized section that every student gets."
How much money do yearbook ads raise?
It depends on the school's culture and how actively the staff markets ads, but Entourage's numbers show the range:
Typical school: ads cover 20–30% of the cost of the book, and they add pages to it.
Strong programs: some schools raise two to three times more from ads than from book sales.
Top programs: dozens of Entourage schools make more than $20,000 a year from ads.
"A typical school covers 20 to 30 percent of the cost of its book through ads," Jo said. "Some schools raise two or three times what they make selling books, and we have dozens of schools bringing in more than $20,000 a year."
Ads sell mostly at the middle and high school level, where families want to mark milestones like eighth-grade promotion and graduation. They're less common in elementary yearbooks.
How much do yearbook ads cost?
Schools set their own prices. Published school rate sheets commonly fall in these ranges (ThePricer):
| Ad size | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Eighth page | $45–$100 |
| Quarter page | $75–$190 |
| Half page | $100–$250 |
| Full page | $200–$500 |
Many schools charge less for ads bought early in the year, which gives families a reason to buy in the fall instead of waiting for spring.
What's new in the EDONext Ad Designer?
Entourage builds its own software, and the redesigned EDONext Ad Designer replaces a version built on older technology.
"We've always built our own tools," Jo said. "Our previous designer ran on older technology that we needed to upgrade. The new one is faster, works on the phone in your hand, and lets families make a beautiful ad without having to stop and ask for help."
For the parents and businesses designing an ad, the redesigned Ad Designer:
Works on phones and tablets. The previous version didn't work well on phones.
Is faster. It responds more quickly while you design.
Keeps the templates families know. Every template from the previous designer is still there.
"We wanted to give parents a simpler way to celebrate their students," said Nicole Rossi, VP of Technology and Marketing at Entourage Yearbooks. "Our redesigned Ad Designer offers a modern, user-friendly experience with improved tools and enhanced security, making it easier than ever to create personalized tributes and preserve lasting memories."
Early feedback from families has been strong. Entourage expects to see higher completion rates and more ads sold over the next 60 to 90 days, as the fall ad season picks up.
What changes for yearbook advisers?
Nothing, by design. Ads still arrive in the adviser's EDONext book, ready to place on the page, and advisers track ad revenue and profit in the same Manage Ads section of EDONext.
"For advisers, nothing changes," Jo said. "Ads land in EDONext the same way they always have, and you track revenue and profit in the same Manage Ads screen. The difference is felt by the parents and businesses designing them."
How can advisers sell more yearbook ads this fall?
Jo's advice for programs at any stage:
Never sold ads? Start small. Set aside four to eight pages of the book for ads and grow from there.
Show families what they'll get. Design a few sample ads and post them on the school's social media.
Put samples in the hallways. Print sample ads and hang them up, so students and parents can see how an ad will look in the finished book.
"If you've never tried ads, give it a try," Jo said. "Start with four or eight pages. And if you already sell ads, design a few samples and put them where families will see them: on your school's social media, even printed and hung in the hallways."
Want to see what ads could raise for your school's book? Request a free sample and price quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much do yearbook ads cost?
Most schools charge roughly $45–$100 for an eighth page and $200–$500 for a full page. Many offer early-bird discounts.
How much money can a school raise from yearbook ads?
At Entourage schools, ads typically cover 20–30% of the cost of the book. Strong programs raise two to three times their book-sales revenue from ads, and dozens of schools raise more than $20,000 a year.
What is a parent ad in a yearbook?
A parent ad, also called a shout-out or senior tribute ad, is a message with photos that a family buys to congratulate or celebrate a student. Grandparents and siblings often buy them too.
Can parents design a yearbook ad on their phone?
Yes. Entourage's redesigned EDONext Ad Designer works on phones and tablets as well as computers.
Do elementary schools sell yearbook ads?
Some do, but ads are most common in middle and high school yearbooks.
Who places the ads in the yearbook?
The school's yearbook adviser or staff. In EDONext, purchased ads arrive ready to place, and revenue and profit are tracked in the Manage Ads section.
About Entourage Yearbooks
Founded in 2005, Entourage Yearbooks is a technology-forward yearbook company serving schools across the United States. It builds its own yearbook design software, EDONext, and its books are manufactured in-house by sister company Quantum Fulfillment. Learn more at entourageyearbooks.com or call 888-926-6571.