Best colleges for Public Relations in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Washington State University, Gonzaga University and Central Washington University award the most Public Relations degrees in Washington: 191, 19 and 5 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 4 Washington colleges offer Public Relations and award 219 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 3 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 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,820 | 191 | 60% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,976 | 5 | 54% | — | $23,342 |
| 3 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $39,013 | 19 | 86% | $30,006 | $26,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Relations degrees in Washington
Top 4 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 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 191 | $45,820 |
| 2 | Gonzaga University Spokane Private not-for-profit | 19 | $39,013 |
| 3 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 5 | $40,976 |
| 4 | Walla Walla University College Place Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Public Relations programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Public Relations degrees?+
Washington State University (191 graduates a year), Gonzaga University (19 graduates a year) and Central Washington University (5 graduates a year) award the most Public Relations degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 4 Washington colleges offer Public Relations.
Which Public Relations program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Washington State University tops the list at $45,820. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Washington is $95,030 (median $87,470), across about 6,430 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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