Best institutions to study Public Relations
Compare 496 U.S. colleges offering Public Relations by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 48 states.
Public Relations programs report a median of $39,701 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 09.09 and the Public Relations Specialists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Public Relations programs
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 communication strategies and media relations, preparing them to effectively engage with diverse audiences and stakeholders.
Students will develop essential skills in active listening, speaking, writing, and critical thinking. Coursework covers communications and media, public relations strategies, and the use of digital platforms, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to excel in the dynamic field of public relations.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,934 | 243 | 84% | $28,851 | $26,000 |
| 2 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,828 | 135 | 84% | $33,246 | $19,750 |
| 3 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,436 | 166 | 81% | $13,712 | $11,975 |
| 4 | Assumption University Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,114 | 12 | 75% | $24,206 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Miami University - Hamilton Hamilton, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,700 | 2 | 25% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Miami University - Middletown Middletown, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,700 | 1 | 32% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,700 | 150 | 80% | — | $25,000 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,587 | 282 | 86% | — | $24,693 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,587 | 57 | 34% | — | $24,693 |
| 10 | National University San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,070 | 20 | 43% | $31,817 | $30,622 |
| 11 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,041 | 221 | 92% | $26,873 | $20,251 |
| 12 | American University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,026 | 111 | 75% | $30,225 | $26,442 |
| 13 | Johnson & Wales University - Providence Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,033 | 3 | 55% | $31,634 | $24,500 |
| 14 | Johnson & Wales University - Online Providence, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,033 | 10 | 0% | $21,981 | $24,500 |
| 15 | North Central College Naperville, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,549 | 6 | 64% | $20,052 | $26,899 |
| 16 | Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion Marion, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,225 | 4 | 67% | $21,351 | $32,082 |
| 17 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,063 | 227 | 85% | — | $23,250 |
| 18 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,053 | 147 | 86% | $25,823 | $24,148 |
| 19 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,972 | 585 | 89% | — | $20,995 |
| 20 | Endicott College Beverly, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,903 | 21 | 76% | $34,195 | $27,000 |
| 21 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,520 | 920 | 43% | $34,565 | $27,799 |
| 22 | Franklin University Columbus, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,518 | 37 | 11% | $22,280 | $42,017 |
| 23 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,039 | 50 | 46% | — | $24,000 |
| 24 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,988 | 125 | 83% | $41,986 | $26,000 |
| 25 | Washington State University Pullman, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,820 | 191 | 60% | — | $20,500 |
| 26 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,759 | 75 | 75% | — | $20,718 |
| 27 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,326 | 368 | 90% | — | $21,787 |
| 28 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,275 | 158 | 71% | — | $24,625 |
| 29 | Roger Williams University Bristol, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,269 | 9 | 69% | $34,648 | $27,000 |
| 30 | Capital University Columbus, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,235 | 6 | 60% | $22,920 | $27,000 |
| 31 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,158 | 629 | 81% | — | $23,899 |
| 32 | Suffolk University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,863 | 72 | 61% | $28,895 | $27,000 |
| 33 | Drake University Des Moines, IA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,492 | 36 | 74% | $28,855 | $23,250 |
| 34 | Pace University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,485 | 58 | 60% | $29,994 | $25,000 |
| 35 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,197 | 19 | 76% | — | $17,038 |
| 36 | University of Miami Coral Gables, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,917 | 171 | 84% | $26,589 | $18,000 |
| 37 | Boise State University Boise, ID Public · Certificate degree | $43,876 | 45 | 60% | — | $22,977 |
| 38 | Illinois State University Normal, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,874 | 48 | 65% | — | $22,500 |
| 39 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,755 | 29 | 68% | — | $21,096 |
| 40 | Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,591 | 55 | 76% | $36,137 | $23,250 |
| 41 | Clemson University Clemson, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,318 | 35 | 87% | — | $23,375 |
| 42 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,308 | 81 | 73% | $33,454 | $25,000 |
| 43 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,974 | 262 | 79% | — | $24,250 |
| 44 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,530 | 82 | 75% | — | $24,750 |
| 45 | University of Houston Houston, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,472 | 170 | 65% | — | $23,800 |
| 46 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,445 | 402 | 73% | — | $25,000 |
| 47 | Webster University Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,421 | 22 | 64% | $25,090 | — |
| 48 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,296 | 28 | 64% | — | $22,519 |
| 49 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,218 | 317 | 74% | — | $19,433 |
| 50 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,181 | 135 | 73% | — | $23,000 |
Offered across 48 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-3031, Public Relations Specialists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Public Relations program can pursue various careers in PR, advertising, and communication. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 4.8% and approximately 27,600 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $69,780, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Public Relations
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 09.09.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 09.09 (Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication) maps to 17 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-2011 | Advertising and Promotions Managers |
| 11-2032 | Public Relations Managers |
| 11-2033 | Fundraising Managers |
| 11-3121 | Human Resources Managers |
| 11-3131 | Training and Development Managers |
| 13-1011 | Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes |
| 13-1131 | Fundraisers |
| 13-1151 | Training and Development Specialists |
| 21-1091 | Health Education Specialists |
| 21-1094 | Community Health Workers |
| 25-1122 | Communications Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 27-2099 | Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other |
| 27-3011 | Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys |
| 27-3023 | News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists |
| 27-3031 | Public Relations Specialistsprimary |
| 27-3041 | Editors |
| 27-3042 | Technical Writers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Public Relations programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an appropriate spokesperson or information source.
- Plan or direct development or communication of programs to maintain favorable public or stockholder perceptions of an organization's accomplishments, agenda, or environmental responsibility.
- Post and update content on the company's Web site and social media outlets.
- Write press releases or other media communications to promote clients.
- Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.
- Confer with other managers to identify trends or key group interests or concerns or to provide advice on business decisions.
Concentrations within Public Relations
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationCIP 09.0900
A general program that focuses on organizational communication, public relations, and advertising; and that prepares individuals to function in a wide range of public and private sector positions requ
- Organizational Communication, GeneralCIP 09.0901
A program that focuses on general communication processes and dynamics within organizations
- Public Relations/Image ManagementCIP 09.0902
A program that focuses on the theories and methods for managing the media image of a business, organization, or individual and the communication process with stakeholders, constituencies, audiences, a
- AdvertisingCIP 09.0903
A program that focuses on the creation, execution, transmission, and evaluation of commercial messages in various media intended to promote and sell products, services, and brands; and that prepares i
- Political CommunicationCIP 09.0904
A program that focuses on human and media communication in the political process and that prepares individuals to function as members of political and public affairs organizations, political campaign
- Health CommunicationCIP 09.0905
A program that focuses on how people, individually and collectively, understand and accommodate to health and illness and the role of communication and media in shaping professional health care messag
- Sports CommunicationCIP 09.0906
A program that focuses on the methods and techniques for communicating about sports in a variety of formats, media, and contexts; and that prepares individuals to be sports reporters and writers, phot
- International and Intercultural CommunicationCIP 09.0907
A program that focuses on the specialized knowledge and skills needed for effective communication in the international community and among people of different cultures; and that prepares individuals t
- Technical and Scientific CommunicationCIP 09.0908
A program that focuses on the communication of technical and scientific knowledge to a variety of audiences through print, video, and digital media; and that prepares individuals to function as techni
- Communication Management and Strategic CommunicationsCIP 09.0909
A program that focuses on the critical thinking, analysis, and practical skills essential to developing and implementing communication strategies that advance organizations goals and missions
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, OtherCIP 09.0999
Any instructional program in organizational communication, public relations, and advertising not listed above.
Common questions
What is public relations?+
Public relations is the practice of managing and disseminating information to influence public perception.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn skills such as active listening, writing, speaking, and critical thinking.
What is the job outlook for public relations professionals?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.8%.
What is the typical education required for a career in public relations?+
A bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in public relations.
How much do Public Relations graduates earn?+
Public Relations graduates report median earnings of $39,701 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Public Relations Specialists occupation pays about $84,120 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Public Relations?+
Public Relations maps to CIP 09.09 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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