by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Relations Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a public relations advertising degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 39 schools on the early-career earnings of their public relations advertising graduates.
What’s on this page:
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Communication - Public Relations
Prepare to develop your skills in building mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their public audiences.
MA in Communication - Public Relations
Learn how to use the latest technology and tactics to manage the flow of information between brands and the public with your Master's in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations at Southern New Hampshire University.
MA in Communication - New Media & Marketing
Keep your skills and knowledge at the forefront of new media technologies with this specialized online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.
The right public relations advertising school can pay off in your paycheck for years to come. To help, we created our Highest Paid Public Relations Advertising Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose public relations advertising degrees pay off the most.
Read more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Public Relations Advertising Graduates list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Communication - Public Relations
Prepare to develop your skills in building mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their public audiences.
MA in Communication - Public Relations
Learn how to use the latest technology and tactics to manage the flow of information between brands and the public with your Master's in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations at Southern New Hampshire University.
MA in Communication - New Media & Marketing
Keep your skills and knowledge at the forefront of new media technologies with this specialized online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.
If you want to know which schools send public relations advertising graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the top school for public relations advertising graduate earnings in the United States. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Northwestern University typically earn about $119,177 annually.
Georgetown University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Georgetown University typically earn about $104,697 annually.
School Of Visual Arts came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Located in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,346.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Colorado Boulder earned it the #4 place for public relations advertising. University Of Colorado Boulder is a public school located in the city of Boulder. Public Relations Advertising graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of about $90,274 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at George Washington University earned it the #5 place for public relations advertising. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,082.
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Michigan State University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,351.
Boston University landed the #7 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Boston University typically earn about $83,801 annually.
Marist College placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Marist College make a median of around $86,248 per year.
American University landed the #9 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from American University typically earn about $87,743 annually.
Trinity Washington University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Located in the city of Washington, Trinity Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Trinity Washington University earn a median of about $72,618 a year early in their careers.
West Virginia University earned the #11 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a public institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of about $85,564 a year early in their careers.
California Baptist University came in at #12 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from California Baptist University make a median of around $70,524 per year.
University Of Oregon landed the #13 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a public institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,763.
Depaul University placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Depaul University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Depaul University earn a median of about $78,943 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #15 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school located in the city of Austin. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from The University Of Texas At Austin make a median of around $82,246 per year.
Rider University came in at #16 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Rider University earn a median of about $81,362 a year early in their careers.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Athens. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,649.
Syracuse University came in at #18 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Syracuse University typically earn about $62,662 annually.
Bellevue University earned the #19 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,588.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #20 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $61,463 a year early in their careers.
Concordia University Saint Paul ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul typically earn about $61,314 annually.
University Of Southern California earned the #22 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,312.
Florida State University earned the #23 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a public institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Florida State University typically earn about $71,309 annually.
Texas Tech University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a public institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Texas Tech University typically earn about $59,124 annually.
Sacred Heart University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $58,396 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning public relations advertising graduates:
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The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their public relations advertising graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 39 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
