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2025 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools

209 Colleges in the United States
21,275 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$41,961 Avg Early-Career Salary
A degree in public relations & advertising is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #52 out of 395 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.

College Factual looked at 209 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 21,275 degrees in public relations & advertising annually.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Public Relations & Advertising School

Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools Your choice of public relations & advertising school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. We derive our Best Overall Public Relations & Advertising School rankings by rolling up our degree-level rankings after weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each school.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Pick Your Public Relations & Advertising Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Public Relations
Bachelor's Degrees in Public Relations
Master's Degrees in Public Relations
Doctor's Degrees in Public Relations

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision. You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.

Best Schools for Public Relations & Advertising in the United States

Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the public relations degree levels they offer. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools in Public Relations

1
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, MA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
404 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
63.4% Growth in Graduates

Every student pursuing a degree in public relations & advertising needs to check out Boston University. Boston U is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Boston. A Best Colleges rank of #23 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Boston U is a great university overall.

There were about 404 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Boston U in the most recent year we have data available. Those public relations & advertising students who get their degree from Boston University earn $32,021 more than the typical public relations graduate.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Boston University

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
554 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$48,606 Median Starting Salary

It's difficult to beat The University of Texas at Austin if you wish to pursue a degree in public relations & advertising. Located in the large city of Austin, UT Austin is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #46 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UT Austin is a great university overall.

There were approximately 554 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at UT Austin in the most recent year we have data available. Public Relations & Advertising degree recipients from The University of Texas at Austin receive an earnings boost of around $6,645 above the average earnings of public relations & advertising majors.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from The University of Texas at Austin

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BA in Communication - Public Relations Program Name

Prepare to develop your skills in building mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their public audiences.

More information about a degree in BA in Communication - Public Relations from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

3
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
130 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
12.3% Growth in Graduates

It is difficult to beat George Washington University if you wish to pursue a degree in public relations & advertising. GWU is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Washington. A Best Colleges rank of #25 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means GWU is a great university overall.

There were approximately 130 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at GWU in the most recent year we have data available. Public Relations & Advertising degree recipients from George Washington University receive an earnings boost of approximately $31,608 above the typical earnings of public relations & advertising graduates.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from George Washington University

4
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In MN
176 Public Relations Degrees Awarded

It is hard to beat University of Minnesota - Twin Cities if you wish to pursue a degree in public relations & advertising. Located in the city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #45 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UMN Twin Cities is a great university overall.

There were approximately 176 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at UMN Twin Cities in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

5
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
568 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$45,158 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #54 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Michigan State is a great university overall.

There were roughly 568 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising degree recipients from Michigan State University get an earnings boost of approximately $3,197 over the typical income of public relations & advertising majors.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Michigan State University

6
Syracuse crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
358 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$58,458 Median Starting Salary

Syracuse is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Syracuse. A Best Colleges rank of #62 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Syracuse is a great university overall.

There were about 358 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse in the most recent year we have data available. Public Relations & Advertising degree recipients from Syracuse University earn a boost of approximately $16,497 over the typical earnings of public relations & advertising majors.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Syracuse University

7
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
44 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$82,421 Median Starting Salary

Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston. A Best Colleges rank of #5 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Northwestern is a great university overall.

There were roughly 44 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising degree recipients from Northwestern University get an earnings boost of about $40,460 over the average income of public relations & advertising graduates.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Northwestern University

Sponsored
Masters Degree Type
MA in Communication - Public Relations Program Name

Learn how to use the latest technology and tactics to manage the flow of information between brands and the public with your Master's in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations at Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in MA in Communication - Public Relations from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

8
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
391 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
1.8% Growth in Graduates

Located in the midsize city of Athens, UGA is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 68 colleges for overall quality in the state of Georgia.

There were approximately 391 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at UGA in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising degree recipients from University of Georgia receive an earnings boost of about $3,347 over the typical income of public relations & advertising majors.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University of Georgia

9
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
386 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$42,099 Median Starting Salary

Located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville, UF is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #56 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UF is a great university overall.

There were about 386 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at UF in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the public relations program earn around $42,099 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University of Florida

10
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
137 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
21.9% Growth in Graduates

Located in the suburb of Dallas, SMU is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 5th out of 115 colleges for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were roughly 137 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at SMU in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the public relations & advertising degree program at Southern Methodist University make $9,867 above the standard graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Southern Methodist University

11
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
178 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$50,246 Median Starting Salary

USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Los Angeles. A Best Colleges rank of #13 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means USC is a great university overall.

There were roughly 178 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising degree recipients from University of Southern California receive an earnings boost of approximately $8,285 over the typical income of public relations & advertising graduates.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University of Southern California

Sponsored
Masters Degree Type
MA in Communication - New Media & Marketing Program Name

Keep your skills and knowledge at the forefront of new media technologies with this specialized online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in MA in Communication - New Media & Marketing from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

12
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
285 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$41,165 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 8th out of 103 colleges for overall quality in the state of Pennsylvania.

There were roughly 285 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Temple in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the public relations program report average early career earnings of $41,165.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Temple University

13
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
310 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
1.0% Growth in Graduates

Located in the distant town of Pullman, Wazzu is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 50 schools for overall quality in the state of Washington.

There were approximately 310 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Wazzu in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising degree recipients from Washington State University earn a boost of around $3,859 above the average income of public relations & advertising graduates.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Washington State University

14
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
499 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$42,230 Median Starting Salary

UO is a very large public university located in the city of Eugene. This university ranks 1st out of 29 schools for overall quality in the state of Oregon.

There were approximately 499 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at UO in the most recent year we have data available. After graduation, public relations degree recipients usually earn around $42,230 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University of Oregon

15
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
218 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$49,115 Median Starting Salary

Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #41 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UIUC is a great university overall.

There were roughly 218 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the public relations & advertising degree program at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign get $7,154 above the typical college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Sponsored
Masters Degree Type
MS in Marketing - New Media & Communications Program Name

Explore how emerging media impacts the study of culture, relationships and messages with this online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in MS in Marketing - New Media & Communications from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

16
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
127 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$45,988 Median Starting Salary

Located in the large suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #63 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Pepperdine is a great university overall.

There were about 127 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine in the most recent year we have data available. Those public relations & advertising students who get their degree from Pepperdine University receive $4,027 more than the typical public relations grad.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Pepperdine University

17
Marquette crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
100 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$40,583 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 46 schools for overall quality in the state of Wisconsin.

There were about 100 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Marquette in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the public relations program state that they receive average early career earnings of $40,583.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Marquette University

18
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
363 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
6.3% Growth in Graduates

UA is a fairly large public university located in the city of Tuscaloosa. This university ranks 3rd out of 42 colleges for overall quality in the state of Alabama.

There were roughly 363 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at UA in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, public relations degree recipients generally earn an average of $42,445 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from The University of Alabama

19
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In NC
176 Public Relations Degrees Awarded

Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. This university ranks 5th out of 93 schools for overall quality in the state of North Carolina.

There were about 176 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Elon in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Elon University

Sponsored
Associates Degree Type
AS in Marketing Program Name

Learn creative problem-solving skills and expand your knowledge in consumer behavior with an online associate in marketing degree from Southern New Hampshire University.

More information about a degree in AS in Marketing from Southern New Hampshire University

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20
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
193 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$43,031 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Chicago, DePaul is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. This university ranks 7th out of 85 schools for overall quality in the state of Illinois.

There were approximately 193 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at DePaul in the most recent year we have data available. After graduating, public relations degree recipients usually earn around $43,031 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from DePaul University

21
Graduate Certificate Highest Degree Type
251 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$42,168 Median Starting Salary

UNL is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Lincoln. This university ranks 2nd out of 19 colleges for overall quality in the state of Nebraska.

There were roughly 251 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at UNL in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the public relations program earn an average of $42,168 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University of Nebraska - Lincoln

22
Rowan crest
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
236 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$35,116 Median Starting Salary

Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 13th out of 45 colleges for overall quality in the state of New Jersey.

There were approximately 236 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Rowan in the most recent data year. After graduation, public relations degree recipients generally make about $35,116 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Rowan University

23
The American University crest
American University
Washington, DC
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
166 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
24.7% Growth in Graduates

The American University is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Washington. A Best Colleges rank of #61 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means The American University is a great university overall.

There were about 166 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at The American University in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising degree recipients from American University get an earnings boost of about $11,465 above the average income of public relations & advertising majors.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from American University

Sponsored
Bachelors Degree Type
BS in Marketing Program Name

Are you considering a business career path that involves creativity and problem-solving? The Bachelor of Science in Marketing degree from Southern New Hampshire University can help you build your knowledge in consumer behavior, market research and international marketing.

More information about a degree in BS in Marketing from Southern New Hampshire University

Related Programs

24
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
156 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
6.4% Growth in Graduates

Miami University - Oxford is a large public university located in the fringe town of Oxford. This university ranks 5th out of 91 colleges for overall quality in the state of Ohio.

There were about 156 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Miami University - Oxford in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising degree recipients from Miami University - Oxford receive an earnings boost of around $8,739 above the typical income of public relations & advertising majors.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Miami University - Oxford

25
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
169 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$43,917 Median Starting Salary

U Miami is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Coral Gables. This university ranks 6th out of 70 colleges for overall quality in the state of Florida.

There were approximately 169 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at U Miami in the most recent year we have data available. After graduating, public relations degree recipients generally earn an average of $43,917 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University of Miami

Rest of the Top Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools

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27
Ithaca crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY
28
29
30
31
Emerson crest
Emerson College
Boston, MA
32

33

34
35
36
37
Butler crest
Butler University
Indianapolis, IN
38
39
Fairfield U crest
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT
40
41

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Public Relations & Advertising students that almost earned our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools award.

Rank College Location
42 University of Houston Houston, TX
43 Ohio University - Athens Campus Athens, OH
44 Chapman University Orange, CA
45 San Diego State University San Diego, CA
46 Drake University Des Moines, IA
47 Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ
48 Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
49 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
50 Bradley University Peoria, IL
51 Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ
52 West Virginia University Morgantown, WV
53 Brigham Young University - Provo Provo, UT
54 Texas State University San Marcos, TX
55 University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH
56 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI
57 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
58 Illinois State University Normal, IL
59 Appalachian State University Boone, NC
60 Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY
61 Susquehanna University Selinsgrove, PA
62 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL
63 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI
64 Gonzaga University Spokane, WA
65 The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TN
66 University of Idaho Moscow, ID
67 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI
68 University of South Florida - Main Campus Tampa, FL
69 Pace University - New York New York, NY

Public Relations & Advertising by Region

View the Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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Public Relations & Advertising is one of 5 different types of Communication & Journalism programs to choose from.

Public Relations Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Public Relations 5,039
Advertising 4,655
Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication 4,517
General Organizational Communication 1,905
Communication Management and Strategic Communications 1,802
Other Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication 1,409
Sports Communication 943
Health Communication 424
Technical & Scientific Communication 203
Political Communication 195

View All Public Relations Focus Areas >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Communication & Media Studies 62,855
Radio, Television & Digital Communication 18,286
Journalism 12,911
Communication & Journalism (Other) 1,349
Publishing 318

View All Public Relations Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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