by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication involves the study of Public Relations, Advertising, And Applied Communication. 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 Requiring The Skills Of Persuasive Communication. Includes Instruction In Communications, Public Relations, And Advertising Theory; Principles And Techniques Of Persuasion; Message/image Design; Marketing Strategy; Professional Writing; Public Speaking And Multi-Media Presentation Skills; Digital Communications; And Applied Research. Examples: [Public Relations And Advertising], [Applied Communication]. Continue reading for the essential details every public relations, advertising, & applied communication major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering public relations, advertising, & applied communication programs.
In the U.S., public relations, advertising, & applied communication is a widely-pursued major, with 4,077 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools ranking analyzes these 162 schools to determine the best overall colleges for public relations, advertising, & applied communication students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of public relations, advertising, & applied communication programs later in this article.
Programs in Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a public relations, advertising, & applied communication program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a public relations, advertising, & applied communication major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several public relations, advertising, & applied communication 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 | 4 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 37 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,064 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 966 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to public relations, advertising, & applied communication tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.9% |
| Master’s degree | 34.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.5% |
| Some college courses | 4.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in public relations, advertising, & applied communication careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying public relations, advertising, & applied communication prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to public relations, advertising, & applied communication.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to public relations, advertising, & applied communication.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Fundraising Managers | 340,731 | -1.0% |
| Fundraisers | 340,575 | 12.6% |
| Public Relations Managers | 337,124 | 7.0% |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 324,973 | -3.3% |
| Public Relations Specialists | 288,926 | -3.5% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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, & applied communication graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers public relations, advertising, & applied communication grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Public Relations Managers | $139,736 |
| Fundraisers | $118,069 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $113,521 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $103,749 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| Fundraising Managers | $90,350 |
With 162 different public relations, advertising, & applied communication programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased public relations, advertising, & applied communication school rankings to help you.
Those considering public relations, advertising, & applied communication, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Advertising | 4,308 |
| Public Relations/Image Management | 4,061 |
| Communication Management and Strategic Communications | 1,956 |
| Organizational Communication, General | 1,789 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other | 1,296 |
| Sports Communication | 1,202 |
| Health Communication | 362 |
| Political Communication | 211 |
| Technical and Scientific Communication | 191 |
| International and Intercultural Communication | 183 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
