Best colleges for Public Relations in Indiana
Ranked by graduate earnings
Butler University, Ball State University and Franklin College are the top bachelor's Public Relations programs in Indiana by graduate earnings. Butler University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,701, College Scorecard. Butler University, Ball State University and University of Southern Indiana award the most Public Relations degrees in Indiana: 113, 60 and 24 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Indiana colleges offer Public Relations and award 336 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 5 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 | Butler University Indianapolis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,701 | 113 | 80% | $35,696 | $26,176 |
| 2 | Ball State University Muncie Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,020 | 60 | 62% | — | $23,879 |
| 3 | Franklin College Franklin Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,964 | 20 | 60% | $22,055 | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,736 | 24 | 48% | — | $25,270 |
| 5 | Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion Marion Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $48,225 | 4 | 67% | $21,351 | $32,082 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Relations degrees in Indiana
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 | Butler University Indianapolis Private not-for-profit | 113 | $39,701 |
| 2 | Ball State University Muncie Public | 60 | $38,020 |
| 3 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville Public | 24 | $34,736 |
| 4 | Franklin College Franklin Private not-for-profit | 20 | $36,964 |
| 5 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 6 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Evansville Evansville Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
| 8 | Taylor University Upland Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
| 9 | Vincennes University Vincennes Public | 5 | Not reported |
| 10 | Anderson University Anderson Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 Indiana colleges offering Public Relations
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue University Global (Online) | West Lafayette | Public | 48 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion | Marion | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| University of Indianapolis | Indianapolis | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary | Winona Lake | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Indiana State University | Terre Haute | Public | 1 |
| Valparaiso University | Valparaiso | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Indiana
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Relations programs in Indiana.
Which Indiana colleges award the most Public Relations degrees?+
Butler University (113 graduates a year), Ball State University (60 graduates a year) and University of Southern Indiana (24 graduates a year) award the most Public Relations degrees in Indiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Indiana colleges offer Public Relations.
What is the best college for Public Relations in Indiana?+
By graduate earnings, Butler University leads among bachelor's Public Relations programs in Indiana, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,701, College Scorecard. Ball State University and Franklin College follow. By degrees awarded, Butler University is the largest, with 113 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Relations program in Indiana has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Butler University tops the list at $39,701. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Indiana?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Indiana is $72,510 (median $64,900), across about 3,750 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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