Best colleges for Public Relations in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
National University, University of Southern California and Pepperdine University are the top bachelor's Public Relations programs in California by graduate earnings. National University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,070, College Scorecard. University of Southern California, Pepperdine University and California State University - Long Beach award the most Public Relations degrees in California: 221, 125 and 64 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 California colleges offer Public Relations and award 817 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Public Relations program, formally known as Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, focuses on managing and disseminating information to influence public perception. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,070 | 20 | 43% | $31,817 | $30,622 |
| 2 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,041 | 221 | 92% | $26,873 | $20,251 |
| 3 | Pepperdine University Malibu Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,988 | 125 | 83% | $41,986 | $26,000 |
| 4 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,141 | 44 | 82% | $42,965 | $22,625 |
| 5 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,798 | 47 | 43% | — | $13,000 |
| 6 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,856 | 34 | 70% | $37,121 | $23,250 |
| 7 | California Baptist University Riverside Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,782 | 25 | 62% | $26,940 | $22,718 |
| 8 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,226 | 64 | 69% | — | $23,012 |
| 9 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,197 | 19 | 76% | — | $17,038 |
| 10 | Biola University La Mirada Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,319 | 16 | 68% | $26,727 | $21,104 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Relations degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 221 | $50,041 |
| 2 | Pepperdine University Malibu Private not-for-profit | 125 | $45,988 |
| 3 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 64 | $28,226 |
| 4 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | 62 | Not reported |
| 5 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 60 | Not reported |
| 6 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson Public | 47 | $38,798 |
| 7 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit | 44 | $40,141 |
| 8 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit | 34 | $37,856 |
| 9 | California Baptist University Riverside Private not-for-profit | 25 | $32,782 |
| 10 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit | 20 | $50,070 |
ShowHide the other 16 California colleges offering Public Relations
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palomar College | San Marcos | Public | 20 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | Public | 19 |
| Biola University | La Mirada | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa | Public | 5 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Moorpark College | Moorpark | Public | 3 |
| Citrus College | Glendora | Public | 2 |
| De Anza College | Cupertino | Public | 2 |
| La Sierra University | Riverside | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| American River College | Sacramento | Public | 1 |
| Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo | Public | 1 |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills | Public | 1 |
| Hope International University | Fullerton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Relations programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Public Relations degrees?+
University of Southern California (221 graduates a year), Pepperdine University (125 graduates a year) and California State University - Long Beach (64 graduates a year) award the most Public Relations degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 California colleges offer Public Relations.
What is the best college for Public Relations in California?+
By graduate earnings, National University leads among bachelor's Public Relations programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,070, College Scorecard. University of Southern California and Pepperdine University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Southern California is the largest, with 221 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Relations program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, National University tops the list at $50,070. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in California is $97,140 (median $85,030), across about 32,710 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Public Relations program?+
The Public Relations program, formally known as Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, focuses on managing and disseminating information to influence public perception. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, speaking, writing, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Public Relations Specialists?+
The national job outlook is about +4.8% growth with around 27,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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