Best colleges for Public Relations in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University and The University of Texas at Austin are the top bachelor's Public Relations programs in Texas by graduate earnings. Southern Methodist University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,828, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech University and Texas State University award the most Public Relations degrees in Texas: 585, 460 and 342 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 27 Texas colleges offer Public Relations and award 2,108 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 | Southern Methodist University Dallas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,828 | 135 | 84% | $33,246 | $19,750 |
| 2 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,053 | 147 | 86% | $25,823 | $24,148 |
| 3 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,972 | 585 | 89% | — | $20,995 |
| 4 | University of Houston Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,472 | 170 | 65% | — | $23,800 |
| 5 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,023 | 460 | 69% | — | $21,500 |
| 6 | Texas State University San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,411 | 342 | 55% | — | $21,764 |
| 7 | The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,280 | 71 | 50% | — | $22,000 |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,703 | 15 | 54% | — | $22,639 |
| 9 | Dallas Baptist University Dallas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,613 | 13 | 57% | $29,227 | — |
| 10 | West Texas A & M University Canyon Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,658 | 8 | 55% | — | $21,419 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Relations degrees in Texas
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 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public | 585 | $47,972 |
| 2 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public | 460 | $41,023 |
| 3 | Texas State University San Marcos Public | 342 | $40,411 |
| 4 | University of Houston Houston Public | 170 | $42,472 |
| 5 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth Private not-for-profit | 147 | $48,053 |
| 6 | Southern Methodist University Dallas Private not-for-profit | 135 | $51,828 |
| 7 | The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso Public | 71 | $33,280 |
| 8 | University of North Texas Denton Public | 64 | Not reported |
| 9 | Abilene Christian University Abilene Private not-for-profit | 15 | Not reported |
| 10 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public | 15 | $41,703 |
ShowHide the other 17 Texas colleges offering Public Relations
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | Waco | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| El Paso Community College | El Paso | Public | 14 |
| Dallas Baptist University | Dallas | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Lubbock Christian University | Lubbock | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| East Texas Baptist University | Marshall | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| University of Houston-Downtown | Houston | Public | 9 |
| West Texas A & M University | Canyon | Public | 8 |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | San Antonio | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Hardin-Simmons University | Abilene | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Del Mar College | Corpus Christi | Public | 3 |
| Texas A&M University - College Station | College Station | Public | 3 |
| Texas A & M International University | Laredo | Public | 2 |
| LeTourneau University | Longview | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Stephen F Austin State University | Nacogdoches | Public | 2 |
| Southwestern Adventist University | Keene | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lamar University | Beaumont | Public | 1 |
| South Plains College | Levelland | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Relations programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Public Relations degrees?+
The University of Texas at Austin (585 graduates a year), Texas Tech University (460 graduates a year) and Texas State University (342 graduates a year) award the most Public Relations degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 27 Texas colleges offer Public Relations.
What is the best college for Public Relations in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, Southern Methodist University leads among bachelor's Public Relations programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,828, College Scorecard. Texas Christian University and The University of Texas at Austin follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Texas at Austin is the largest, with 585 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Public Relations program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Southern Methodist University tops the list at $51,828. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Texas?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Texas is $72,860 (median $65,160), across about 25,220 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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