California · Public Relations

Best Public Relations institutions in California, ranked by earnings

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…

Institutions
21
offering CIP 09.09
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
778
IPEDS completions 2026
Median grad earnings
$38,798
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
10
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,940
IPEDS 2026
Avg graduation rate
63%
IPEDS 2026
State pay · Public Relations Specialists
$92,580
BLS OEWS 2024

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1National University
San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$50,0701743%$31,817$30,622
2University of Southern California
Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$50,04123692%$26,873$20,251
3Pepperdine University
Malibu Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$45,9888183%$41,986$26,000
4San Diego State University
San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,1973776%$17,038
5Chapman University
Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$40,1414082%$42,965$22,625
6California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,7985543%$13,000
7University of San Francisco
San Francisco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$37,8561770%$37,121$23,250
8Biola University
La Mirada Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$36,3192068%$26,727$21,104
9California Baptist University
Riverside Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$32,7823062%$26,940$22,718
10California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,2266069%$23,012

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.8%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~27,600
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$69,780
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Active ListeningSpeakingWritingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive Learning

What Public Relations Specialists earn in California

Jobs in California
31,070
BLS OEWS May 2024
State average pay
$92,580
median $81,490
Best-paying metro
$114,690
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

Related careers

Training and Development Specialists
$82,040 avg · 44,750 jobs
Public Relations Specialists
$92,580 avg · 31,070 jobs
Human Resources Managers
$198,850 avg · 27,680 jobs
Editors
$103,880 avg · 14,920 jobs
Health Education Specialists
$69,950 avg · 14,650 jobs
Technical Writers
$107,260 avg · 13,210 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Public Relations programs in California.

Which Public Relations program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), National University tops the list at $50,070. Compare it against completions, 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 $92,580 (median $81,490), across about 31,070 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

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).

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