Iowa · Public Relations

Best institutions to study Public Relations in Iowa

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
13
offering CIP 09.09
States offered
9
with a program page
Degrees / yr
186
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$42,530
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,731
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
56%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Public Relations Specialists
$68,340
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 5 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

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

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Drake University
Des Moines Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$44,4923674%$28,855$23,250
2University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree
$43,7552968%$21,096
3Iowa State University
Ames Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,5308275%$24,750
4Simpson College
Indianola Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$41,9251463%$20,710
5Loras College
Dubuque Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$40,938668%$19,227$26,581

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 Iowa

Jobs in Iowa
2,890
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$68,340
median $62,970
Best-paying metro
$76,050
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Related careers

Training and Development Specialists
$73,090 avg · 4,670 jobs
Public Relations Specialists
$68,340 avg · 2,890 jobs
Human Resources Managers
$137,710 avg · 1,620 jobs
Fundraisers
$71,680 avg · 1,230 jobs
Editors
$67,790 avg · 900 jobs
Technical Writers
$72,130 avg · 640 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Public Relations programs in Iowa.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Drake University tops the list at $44,492. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Iowa?+

The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Iowa is $68,340 (median $62,970), across about 2,890 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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