by our College Data Analytics TeamAre you interested in a fast-paced career that allows you to do something different every day? Do you enjoy being creative and multi-tasking? A career in Public Relations or Advertising might be for you.
Public Relations specialists work to create a positive image for their clients. These clients include celebrities, brands, and organizations, among many more. In order to shape this reputation, specialists must be strong, creative writers and have the interpersonal skills to develop relationships with the media and those who will share information and spread the name of the client. Students will take classes in image management, media campaigns, newswriting, broadcast media, videography, and speech writing along with businesses classes to acquire these necessary skills.
Schools offer the option to major in either general Public Relations or Advertising or you may decide to specialize in a certain area. Some areas of specialization include Organizational Communication, Public Relations/Image Management, Political Communication, Health Communication, Sports Communication, International and Intercultural Communication, and Technical and Scientific Communication.
A degree in Public Relations & Advertising covers Public Relations, Advertising, And Applied Communication. Continue reading for the important information every public relations & advertising major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering public relations & advertising programs.
Nationwide, public relations & advertising is a widely-pursued major, with 19,636 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking analyzes these 494 schools to determine the best overall colleges for public relations & advertising students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of public relations & advertising programs later in this article.
Coursework for Public Relations & Advertising build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations public relations & advertising graduates commonly enter.
In this major, as with any major in the Communications field, there is a heavy emphasis on clear writing skills. Specialists spend much of their day writing press releases, emails to clients or media members, speeches, annual reports, or pitches making writing extremely important. This career also caters to a student who is a people person and is able to handle multiple projects at once. Strong organizational and critical thinking skills will make you successful in this field.
Public Relations specialists work full time and often have long days that cause the workweek to extend over 40 hours. Depending on the project they are working on, specialists may work in the evenings and on weekends.
Public Relations and advertising employers often require experience before hiring. Graduates must pay their dues before moving into management positions. This is often done through internships. Interning while working towards your degree will allow you to gain valuable experience within the field making you a more desirable candidate.
Skills built by a public relations & advertising program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a public relations & advertising major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several public relations & advertising degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 93 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 432 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 15,060 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,995 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 41 |
People currently working in careers related to public relations & advertising tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 39.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 8.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in public relations & advertising careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in Public Relations and Advertising opens up many career possibilities. Since you will take classes that improve your writing, communication, and organizational skills, you will be considered an asset to many companies. Graduates may find jobs with agencies or working for a company as their in house publicist.
Majoring in public relations & advertising can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to public relations & advertising.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to public relations & advertising.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Technical Writers | 396,969 | 6.9% |
| Training and Development Managers | 394,938 | -0.4% |
| Fundraising Managers | 340,731 | -1.0% |
| Fundraisers | 340,575 | 12.6% |
| Public Relations Managers | 337,124 | 7.0% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of public relations & advertising graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,317 |
| 4 years | $55,248 |
| 5 years | $64,495 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for public relations & advertising graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers public relations & advertising grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Public Relations Managers | $139,736 |
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Fundraisers | $118,069 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $113,521 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $108,419 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $103,749 |
| Editors | $100,346 |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $96,762 |
With 494 different public relations & advertising programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased public relations & advertising school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in public relations & advertising, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication, General | 55,210 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 17,813 |
| Journalism | 11,334 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | 1,080 |
| Publishing | 340 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
