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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in California

12 Colleges in the United States
746 Public Relations & Advertising Degrees Awarded
$45,137 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Relations & Advertising programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 31 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public relations & advertising students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Public Relations & Advertising in California

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public relations & advertising education in California.

Top Schools in Public Relations & Advertising

1

Our analysis ranked San Jose State University the best school in the country for a degree in public relations & advertising. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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

Students looking for a strong public relations & advertising program will find one at San Diego State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. 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. Get the full public relations & advertising details for San Diego State University

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for public relations & advertising. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 236 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $50,338 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,251 to complete this degree. See the full public relations & advertising program report for University Of Southern California

4

A rank of #4 makes Chapman University one of the top schools for public relations & advertising. 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. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans. Read more about the public relations & advertising program at Chapman University

5
University Of San Francisco crest
University Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

University Of San Francisco is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations & advertising, ranking #5. 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. There were roughly 17 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from University Of San Francisco earn around $37,856 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. Read more about the public relations & advertising program at University Of San Francisco

6

Pepperdine University placed #6 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 81 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $45,988 in their early career. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Pepperdine University

7

Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #7 for public relations & advertising this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Point Loma Nazarene University awarded about 10 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University generally make around $54,116. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Point Loma Nazarene University

8

California Lutheran University came in at #8 for public relations & advertising this year. California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Thousand Oaks. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at California Lutheran University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $53,271 in their early career. 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

9

Azusa Pacific University earned the #9 position for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University generally make around $58,302. Students borrow a median of $18,493 to complete this degree. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Azusa Pacific University

10

California State University Dominguez Hills landed the #10 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. About 43% of students finish within six years. About 55 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from California State University Dominguez Hills earn around $38,798 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Dominguez Hills graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. See the full public relations & advertising program report for California State University Dominguez Hills

11
Biola University crest
Biola University
La Mirada, CA

Biola University came in at #11 for public relations & advertising this year. Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Biola University awarded about 20 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Biola University earn around $36,319 in the first couple years of their career. Biola University graduates carry a median of $21,104 in student loans. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Biola University

12

California State University Long Beach earned the #12 position for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 60 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $28,226 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,012. See the full public relations & advertising program report for California State University Long Beach

13
National University crest
National University
San Diego, CA

National University earned the #13 position for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $50,070 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,622. Read more about the public relations & advertising program at National University

14
Santa Monica College crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica College placed #14 among the best public relations & advertising schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Monica. Santa Monica College graduates 81% of students within six years. Santa Monica College awarded about 43 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Santa Monica College

15

California Baptist University earned the #15 position for public relations & advertising this year. California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. California Baptist University graduates 62% of students within six years. About 30 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at California Baptist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $49,165 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,718 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations & advertising details for California Baptist University

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 31 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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