Public Relations & Advertising programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public relations & advertising programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 605 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public relations & advertising students pursuing a degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in public relations & advertising. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 320 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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Students looking for a strong public relations & advertising program will find one at Southern Methodist University, which ranked #2. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 118 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $51,828. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top schools for public relations & advertising. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 511 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $47,972. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $20,995 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations & advertising, ranking #4. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 189 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $56,395 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations & advertising, ranking #5. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 235 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from University Of Southern California earn around $50,041 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,251 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University earned the #6 position for public relations & advertising this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 64 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Boston University came in at #7 for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 310 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $73,982 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
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University Of Florida came in at #8 for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 338 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $42,099. Typical student debt for the program is $17,439.
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George Washington University placed #9 among the best public relations & advertising schools. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 65 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $73,569 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Georgia ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 407 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $45,326. Students borrow a median of $21,787 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #11 position for public relations & advertising this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 204 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $48,063 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Washington State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Pullman. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Washington State University awarded about 209 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Washington State University earn around $45,820 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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Elon University earned the #13 position for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 117 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Elon University earn a median of $50,463 early in their careers. Elon University graduates carry a median of $21,619 in student loans.
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The University Of Tennessee placed #14 among the best public relations & advertising schools. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 157 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $42,173 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,368.
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Miami University Oxford placed #15 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. About 125 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $50,700. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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San Diego State University placed #16 among the best public relations & advertising schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 37 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $44,197 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,038 to complete this degree.
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Siena College placed #17 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the suburb of Loudonville, Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 58 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Siena College in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $44,535 in their early career. Siena College graduates carry a median of $26,656 in student loans.
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University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. University Of Colorado Boulder awarded about 374 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $42,218 early in their careers. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $19,433 in student loans.
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Texas Christian University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fort Worth. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas Christian University awarded about 105 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $48,053 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,148 to complete this degree.
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University Of Miami landed the #20 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 166 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from University Of Miami earn around $43,917 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
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Florida State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. Florida State University awarded about 98 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $41,060 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,849.
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American University came in at #22 for public relations & advertising this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 87 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from American University earn around $50,026 in the first couple years of their career. American University graduates carry a median of $26,442 in student loans.
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Chapman University placed #23 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. About 40 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $40,141. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete this degree.
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Quinnipiac University came in at #24 for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Quinnipiac University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $43,591 in their early career. Quinnipiac University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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University Of Rhode Island came in at #25 for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 106 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from University Of Rhode Island earn around $42,181 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Rhode Island graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Public Relations & Advertising Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s public relations & advertising ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 605 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
