Best colleges for Public Relations in Florida
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Miami, University of Florida and Florida State University are the top bachelor's Public Relations programs in Florida by graduate earnings. University of Miami leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,917, College Scorecard. University of Florida, University of South Florida and Florida International University award the most Public Relations degrees in Florida: 385, 200 and 192 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 32 Florida colleges offer Public Relations and award 1,934 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 | University of Miami Coral Gables Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,917 | 171 | 84% | $26,589 | $18,000 |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,099 | 385 | 91% | — | $17,439 |
| 3 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,060 | 163 | 86% | — | $13,849 |
| 4 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,388 | 119 | 78% | — | $18,750 |
| 5 | The University of Tampa Tampa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,977 | 146 | 64% | $33,070 | $25,000 |
| 6 | Florida Southern College Lakeland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,023 | 30 | 71% | $28,325 | $25,955 |
| 7 | Florida International University Miami Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,435 | 192 | 74% | — | $12,000 |
| 8 | University of South Florida Tampa Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,105 | 200 | 77% | — | $17,082 |
| 9 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,516 | 26 | 53% | — | $26,625 |
| 10 | Full Sail University Winter Park Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,728 | 149 | 44% | $32,163 | $32,103 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami Media School Doral Private for-profit · Certificate | $14,229 | 24 | 65% | $31,195 | $9,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Relations degrees in Florida
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 Florida Gainesville Public | 385 | $42,099 |
| 2 | University of South Florida Tampa Public | 200 | $34,105 |
| 3 | Florida International University Miami Public | 192 | $34,435 |
| 4 | University of Miami Coral Gables Private not-for-profit | 171 | $43,917 |
| 5 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public | 163 | $41,060 |
| 6 | Full Sail University Winter Park Private for-profit | 149 | $26,728 |
| 7 | The University of Tampa Tampa Private not-for-profit | 146 | $36,977 |
| 8 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public | 119 | $37,388 |
| 9 | Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale Private not-for-profit | 52 | Not reported |
| 10 | Florida Southern College Lakeland Private not-for-profit | 30 | $35,023 |
ShowHide the other 22 Florida colleges offering Public Relations
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida-Online (Online) | Gainesville | Public | 75 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee | Public | 26 |
| Valencia College | Orlando | Public | 24 |
| Miami Media School | Doral | Private for-profit | 24 |
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville | Public | 23 |
| Ana G. Mendez University | Orlando | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Flagler College | Saint Augustine | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Webber International University | Babson Park | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola | Public | 16 |
| Broward College | Fort Lauderdale | Public | 12 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | West Palm Beach | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| PENSACOLA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE | Pensacola | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Barry University | Miami | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Jacksonville University | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Southeastern University | Lakeland | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Florida SouthWestern State College | Fort Myers | Public | 1 |
| Florida Memorial University | Miami Gardens | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Warner University | Lake Wales | 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 Florida
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Relations programs in Florida.
Which Florida colleges award the most Public Relations degrees?+
University of Florida (385 graduates a year), University of South Florida (200 graduates a year) and Florida International University (192 graduates a year) award the most Public Relations degrees in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 32 Florida colleges offer Public Relations.
What is the best college for Public Relations in Florida?+
By graduate earnings, University of Miami leads among bachelor's Public Relations programs in Florida, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,917, College Scorecard. University of Florida and Florida State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Florida is the largest, with 385 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Relations program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Miami tops the list at $43,917. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Florida?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Florida is $71,950 (median $63,660), across about 17,820 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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