ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

10 Colleges in the United States
571 Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Degrees Awarded
$49,008 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools to find the best for public relations, advertising, & applied communication students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 6
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 09.09), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Public Relations (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Public Relations (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Public Relations (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Public Relations (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Marketing (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Marketing (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Marketing (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Marketing (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Marketing (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Marketing (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA - Marketing (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.7
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MBA - Marketing (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.7)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 2
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 2 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 2
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 2 offers with relevance >= 0.8

Best Schools for Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication in the Middle Atlantic Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public relations, advertising, & applied communication education in the Middle Atlantic Region.

Top Schools in Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication

1
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Our analysis ranked Georgetown University the best school in the country for a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 93 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $91,362. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483. More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from Georgetown University

2

University Of Delaware came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. University Of Delaware awarded about 35 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from University Of Delaware earn around $54,155 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,861. Get the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication details for University Of Delaware

3
Marist College crest
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY

Marist College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 40 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Marist College in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Marist College earn a median of $70,802 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,962. More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from Marist College

4

West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania

5
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 93 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $58,798 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from Syracuse University

6

Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University World Campus graduates 34% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent data year. See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Pennsylvania State University World Campus

7
Ithaca College crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, NY

Ithaca College earned the #7 position for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Ithaca. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Ithaca College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from Ithaca College earn around $39,446 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from Ithaca College

8
Rowan University crest
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ

Rowan University placed #8 among the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. Rowan University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 18 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Rowan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $35,116 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,125. See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Rowan University

9
Messiah College crest
Messiah College
Mechanicsburg, PA

Messiah College landed the #9 spot for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. About 75% of students finish within six years. Messiah College awarded about 10 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Messiah College generally make around $48,957. Messiah College graduates carry a median of $26,195 in student loans. See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Messiah College

10
Howard University crest
Howard University
Washington, DC

Howard University came in at #10 for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 87 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Howard University in the most recent year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Howard University earn a median of $39,120 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Howard University

11
Susquehanna University crest
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA

Susquehanna University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Set in the town of Selinsgrove, Susquehanna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Susquehanna University in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Susquehanna University earn a median of $36,632 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from Susquehanna University

12
Drexel University crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University placed #12 among the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. About 78% of students finish within six years. Drexel University awarded about 47 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from Drexel University earn around $41,800 in the first couple years of their career. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program at Drexel University

13

Suny College At Buffalo placed #13 among the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Suny College At Buffalo in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $39,412 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,257 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication details for Suny College At Buffalo

14
Point Park University crest
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA

Point Park University landed the #14 spot for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 19 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Point Park University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Point Park University generally make around $32,495. Typical student debt for the program is $28,850. More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from Point Park University

Narrow Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools by State

ADBLOCK #173
View All Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 34 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options