Best colleges for Public Relations in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Pennsylvania State University, Temple University and Duquesne University are the top bachelor's Public Relations programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Pennsylvania State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,587, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania State University, Temple University and Drexel University award the most Public Relations degrees in Pennsylvania: 282, 266 and 58 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 31 Pennsylvania colleges offer Public Relations and award 893 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 8 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 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,587 | 282 | 86% | — | $24,693 |
| 2 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,165 | 266 | 75% | — | $26,000 |
| 3 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,651 | 31 | 77% | $32,060 | $26,000 |
| 4 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,125 | 58 | 78% | $36,004 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Susquehanna University Selinsgrove Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,632 | 26 | 82% | $23,620 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Point Park University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,495 | 24 | 59% | $23,704 | $28,850 |
| 7 | York College of Pennsylvania York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,557 | 3 | 64% | $18,682 | $25,724 |
| 8 | University of Scranton Scranton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,568 | 13 | 80% | $25,834 | $26,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Relations degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 282 | $50,587 |
| 2 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 266 | $41,165 |
| 3 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 58 | $37,125 |
| 4 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 31 | $39,651 |
| 5 | Susquehanna University Selinsgrove Private not-for-profit | 26 | $36,632 |
| 6 | Point Park University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 24 | $32,495 |
| 7 | Robert Morris University Moon Township Private not-for-profit | 21 | Not reported |
| 8 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 18 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Scranton Scranton Private not-for-profit | 13 | $35,568 |
| 10 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public | 11 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 21 Pennsylvania colleges offering Public Relations
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University - World Campus (Online) | University Park | Public | 57 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown | Public | 7 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | Public | 6 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | Public | 6 |
| Waynesburg University | Waynesburg | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Eastern University | Saint Davids | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | Public | 5 |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 5 |
| Butler County Community College | Butler | Public | 4 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Villanova University | Villanova | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | Johnstown | Public | 4 |
| Gannon University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lancaster Bible College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | West Chester | Public | 2 |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington | 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 Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Relations programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Public Relations degrees?+
Pennsylvania State University (282 graduates a year), Temple University (266 graduates a year) and Drexel University (58 graduates a year) award the most Public Relations degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 31 Pennsylvania colleges offer Public Relations.
What is the best college for Public Relations in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Pennsylvania State University leads among bachelor's Public Relations programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,587, College Scorecard. Temple University and Duquesne University follow. By degrees awarded, Pennsylvania State University is the largest, with 282 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Relations program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Pennsylvania State University tops the list at $50,587. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Pennsylvania is $65,660 (median $57,460), across about 11,180 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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