Best colleges for Public Relations in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Michigan State University, Central Michigan University and Grand Valley State University are the top bachelor's Public Relations programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Michigan State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,158, College Scorecard. Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University award the most Public Relations degrees in Michigan: 629, 116 and 32 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Michigan colleges offer Public Relations and award 935 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 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,158 | 629 | 81% | — | $23,899 |
| 2 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,346 | 26 | 59% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,172 | 116 | 67% | — | $26,377 |
| 4 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,718 | 32 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,420 | 11 | 46% | — | $24,755 |
| 6 | Wayne State University Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,306 | 13 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,299 | 9 | 58% | — | $24,975 |
| 8 | Siena Heights University Adrian Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,677 | 11 | 39% | $17,015 | $24,900 |
| 9 | Ferris State University Big Rapids Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,375 | 19 | 47% | — | $22,580 |
| 10 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,319 | 19 | 52% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Public Relations degrees in Michigan
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 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 629 | $45,158 |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 116 | $38,172 |
| 3 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 32 | $37,718 |
| 4 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 26 | $40,346 |
| 5 | Ferris State University Big Rapids Public | 19 | $38,375 |
| 6 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public | 19 | $34,319 |
| 7 | University of Michigan-Dearborn Dearborn Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 8 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 13 | $41,306 |
| 9 | Albion College Albion Private not-for-profit | 11 | Not reported |
| 10 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 11 | $41,420 |
ShowHide the other 8 Michigan colleges offering Public Relations
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siena Heights University | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Oakland University | Rochester Hills | Public | 9 |
| Adrian College | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Michigan Technological University | Houghton | Public | 5 |
| Great Lakes Christian College | Lansing | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Walsh College | Troy | 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 Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Relations programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Public Relations degrees?+
Michigan State University (629 graduates a year), Grand Valley State University (116 graduates a year) and Western Michigan University (32 graduates a year) award the most Public Relations degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Michigan colleges offer Public Relations.
What is the best college for Public Relations in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Michigan State University leads among bachelor's Public Relations programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,158, College Scorecard. Central Michigan University and Grand Valley State University follow. By degrees awarded, Michigan State University is the largest, with 629 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Relations program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Michigan State University tops the list at $45,158. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Michigan is $73,660 (median $65,300), across about 7,510 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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