Best colleges for Public Relations in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University and Loyola University Chicago are the top bachelor's Public Relations programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,063, College Scorecard. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DePaul University and Loyola University Chicago award the most Public Relations degrees in Illinois: 227, 125 and 81 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Illinois colleges offer Public Relations and award 622 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 9 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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,063 | 227 | 85% | — | $23,250 |
| 2 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,874 | 48 | 65% | — | $22,500 |
| 3 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,308 | 81 | 73% | $33,454 | $25,000 |
| 4 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,234 | 125 | 68% | $28,141 | $24,500 |
| 5 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,794 | 20 | 52% | $28,087 | $26,000 |
| 6 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,351 | 33 | 76% | $21,768 | $26,819 |
| 7 | North Central College Naperville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $48,549 | 6 | 64% | $20,052 | $26,899 |
| 8 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,369 | 14 | 47% | — | $23,745 |
| 9 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,202 | 8 | 67% | $17,632 | — |
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 | Illinois Media School Chicago Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $21,902 | 16 | 80% | $30,188 | $15,833 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Relations degrees in Illinois
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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 227 | $48,063 |
| 2 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit | 125 | $41,234 |
| 3 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 81 | $43,308 |
| 4 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 48 | $43,874 |
| 5 | Bradley University Peoria Private not-for-profit | 33 | $38,351 |
| 6 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 20 | $39,794 |
| 7 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 14 | $38,369 |
| 8 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit | 8 | $24,202 |
| 9 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
| 10 | Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 10 Illinois colleges offering Public Relations
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Media School | Chicago | Private for-profit | 16 |
| Illinois Media School - Chicago Campus | Chicago | Private for-profit | 7 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| John A Logan College | Carterville | Public | 4 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Relations programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Public Relations degrees?+
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (227 graduates a year), DePaul University (125 graduates a year) and Loyola University Chicago (81 graduates a year) award the most Public Relations degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Illinois colleges offer Public Relations.
What is the best college for Public Relations in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads among bachelor's Public Relations programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $48,063, College Scorecard. Illinois State University and Loyola University Chicago follow. By degrees awarded, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the largest, with 227 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Relations program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tops the list at $48,063. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Illinois is $86,060 (median $76,380), across about 6,200 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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