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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in Pennsylvania

4 Colleges in the United States
140 Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Degrees Awarded
$39,971 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools to find the best for public relations, advertising, & applied communication students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication in Pennsylvania

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication

1

No school ranked higher than West Chester University Of Pennsylvania this year for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 11 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania

2

Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year. See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Pennsylvania State University World Campus

3
Messiah College crest
Messiah College
Mechanicsburg, PA

Students looking for a strong public relations, advertising, & applied communication program will find one at Messiah College, which ranked #3. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 10 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Messiah College in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from Messiah College earn around $48,957 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,195 to complete this degree. See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Messiah College

4
Susquehanna University crest
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA

Susquehanna University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Selinsgrove. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Susquehanna University awarded about 21 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Susquehanna University generally make around $36,632. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program at Susquehanna University

5
Drexel University crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

A rank of #5 makes Drexel University one of the top schools for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Drexel University graduates 78% of students within six years. Drexel University awarded about 47 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $41,800 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from Drexel University

6
Point Park University crest
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA

Point Park University landed the #6 spot for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 19 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Point Park University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Point Park University generally make around $32,495. Students borrow a median of $28,850 to complete this degree. See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Point Park University

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 17 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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