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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Far Western Region

18 Colleges in the United States
1,420 Public Relations & Advertising Degrees Awarded
$44,193 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Relations & Advertising degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public relations & advertising programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 48 schools to find the best for public relations & advertising students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Public Relations & Advertising in the Far Western Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public relations & advertising education in the Far Western Region.

Top Schools in Public Relations & Advertising

1

Leading the list is San Jose State University, our #1 school for public relations & advertising. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 64 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year. Get the full public relations & advertising details for San Jose State University

2

A rank of #2 makes Washington State University one of the top schools for public relations & advertising. 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. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Washington State University

3

A rank of #3 makes San Diego State University one of the top schools for public relations & advertising. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. San Diego State University awarded about 37 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $44,197 early in their careers. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $17,038 in student loans. Read more about the public relations & advertising program at San Diego State University

4

University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations & advertising, ranking #4. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 236 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from University Of Southern California earn around $50,338 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,251. Read more about the public relations & advertising program at University Of Southern California

5

Students looking for a strong public relations & advertising program will find one at Chapman University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $40,141 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,625. Get the full public relations & advertising details for Chapman University

6

University Of Oregon placed #6 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Oregon awarded about 403 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from University Of Oregon earn around $54,461 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Oregon graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. See the full public relations & advertising program report for University Of Oregon

7
University Of San Francisco crest
University Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

University Of San Francisco earned the #7 position for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of San Francisco graduates 70% of students within six years. About 17 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $37,856 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University Of San Francisco

8

Pepperdine University landed the #8 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. Pepperdine University graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 81 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $45,988 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Pepperdine University

9
Gonzaga University crest
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA

Gonzaga University landed the #9 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 17 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Gonzaga University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Gonzaga University earn around $39,013 in the first couple years of their career. Gonzaga University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the public relations & advertising program at Gonzaga University

10

Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #10 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. About 10 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $54,116 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete this degree. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Point Loma Nazarene University

11

University Of Portland landed the #11 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Portland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of Portland graduates 80% of students within six years. About 21 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Portland in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Portland generally make around $35,605. Students borrow a median of $20,828 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University Of Portland

12

California Lutheran University landed the #12 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. California Lutheran University awarded about 21 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of California Lutheran University earn a median of $53,271 early in their careers. California Lutheran University graduates carry a median of $22,727 in student loans. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from California Lutheran University

13

Azusa Pacific University came in at #13 for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Azusa Pacific University awarded about 15 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Azusa Pacific University earn around $58,302 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,493. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Azusa Pacific University

14

California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #14 for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Dominguez Hills awarded about 55 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $38,798. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000. See the full public relations & advertising program report for California State University Dominguez Hills

15

Central Washington University earned the #15 position for public relations & advertising this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Ellensburg. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 12 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Central Washington University in the most recent year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $40,976 early in their careers. Central Washington University graduates carry a median of $23,342 in student loans. Get the full public relations & advertising details for Central Washington University

16
Biola University crest
Biola University
La Mirada, CA

Biola University landed the #16 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. Biola University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Biola University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $36,319 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,104 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations & advertising details for Biola University

17

George Fox University came in at #17 for public relations & advertising this year. George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Newberg. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 12 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at George Fox University in the most recent year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of George Fox University earn a median of $37,012 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. Get the full public relations & advertising details for George Fox University

18

California State University Long Beach landed the #18 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 60 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $28,226. Typical student debt for the program is $23,012. Get the full public relations & advertising details for California State University Long Beach

19
National University crest
National University
San Diego, CA

National University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 17 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at National University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from National University earn around $50,070 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,622. See the full public relations & advertising program report for National University

20
Santa Monica College crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica College placed #20 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 43 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Santa Monica College in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Santa Monica College

21

California Baptist University earned the #21 position for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. California Baptist University awarded about 30 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $49,165. California Baptist University graduates carry a median of $22,718 in student loans. Get the full public relations & advertising details for California Baptist University

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 48 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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