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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Public Relations & Advertising Master’s Degree Schools

65 Colleges in the United States
4,209 Public Relations & Advertising Degrees Awarded
$52,794 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.

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.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Public Relations & Advertising in the United States

These are the top schools for a master’s degree in public relations & advertising, based on student outcomes and program quality.

Top Schools in Public Relations & Advertising

1
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

No school ranked higher than Georgetown University this year for public relations & advertising. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 187 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $91,362. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans. Read more about the public relations & advertising program at Georgetown University

2

University Of Delaware is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public relations & advertising, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at University Of Delaware in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $54,155 in their early career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University Of Delaware

3
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations & advertising, ranking #3. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 104 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $73,982. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Boston University

4
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

A rank of #4 makes Harvard University one of the top schools for public relations & advertising. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 17 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616. Get the full public relations & advertising details for Harvard University

5

Students looking for a strong public relations & advertising program will find one at Rutgers University New Brunswick, which ranked #5. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 10 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $58,402 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations & advertising details for Rutgers University New Brunswick

6

George Washington University came in at #6 for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 74 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from George Washington University earn around $73,569 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from George Washington University

7

Southern Methodist University earned the #7 position for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Southern Methodist University awarded about 78 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $51,828 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Southern Methodist University

8
Towson University crest
Towson University
Towson, MD

Towson University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 21 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Towson University earn around $50,370 in the first couple years of their career. Towson University graduates carry a median of $21,241 in student loans. Get the full public relations & advertising details for Towson University

9
Marist College crest
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY

Marist College landed the #9 spot for public relations & advertising this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Marist College awarded about 40 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Marist College earn a median of $70,802 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,962. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Marist College

10

Quinnipiac University landed the #10 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. Quinnipiac University awarded about 44 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Quinnipiac University earn around $43,591 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Quinnipiac University

11

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington landed the #11 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 63 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $46,164 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,013. See the full public relations & advertising program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

12
University Of Kansas crest
University Of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

University Of Kansas came in at #12 for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of Kansas awarded about 10 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University Of Kansas

13
Florida State University crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University landed the #13 spot for public relations & advertising this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Florida State University awarded about 62 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Florida State University earn around $51,722 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,849 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Florida State University

14

University Of Southern California earned the #14 position for public relations & advertising this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 160 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $50,634 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,251 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University Of Southern California

15

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #15 for public relations & advertising this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 22 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $61,463. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations & advertising details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

16

The University Of Alabama placed #16 among the best public relations & advertising schools. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. The University Of Alabama awarded about 246 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $42,445 in their early career. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full public relations & advertising program report for The University Of Alabama

17

The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 274 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $54,561 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $20,995 in student loans. See the full public relations & advertising program report for The University Of Texas At Austin

18
American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

American University came in at #18 for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 87 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at American University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from American University generally make around $63,727. American University graduates carry a median of $26,442 in student loans. See the full public relations & advertising program report for American University

19

University Of Oregon ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 163 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oregon in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $66,763 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500. Get the full public relations & advertising details for University Of Oregon

20
Temple University crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA

Temple University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Temple University awarded about 115 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Temple University earn a median of $41,165 early in their careers. Temple University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full public relations & advertising details for Temple University

21
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University placed #21 among the best public relations & advertising schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 122 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $62,662. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Syracuse University

22

Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #22 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. About 58 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Pennsylvania State University World Campus

23

University Of North Texas landed the #23 spot for public relations & advertising this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $49,157 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,817. See the full public relations & advertising program report for University Of North Texas

24

University Of Maryland University College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public university. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Maryland University College awarded about 64 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Maryland University College generally make around $65,890. Students borrow a median of $23,276 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations & advertising details for University Of Maryland University College

25
Rowan University crest
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ

Rowan University placed #25 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 188 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Rowan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $35,116 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,125. Get the full public relations & advertising details for Rowan University

Rest of the Top 50 Public Relations & Advertising Schools

These schools also placed among the best for public relations & advertising this year:

26
27
28
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
29
30
31
32
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL
33
34
College Of Charleston crest
College Of Charleston
Charleston, SC
35
Iona College crest
Iona College
New Rochelle, NY
36
Butler University crest
Butler University
Indianapolis, IN
37
38
Saint Bonaventure University crest
Saint Bonaventure University
Saint Bonaventure, NY
39
Kean University crest
Kean University
Union, NJ
40
Emerson College crest
Emerson College
Boston, MA
41
42
43
44
45
Belmont University crest
Belmont University
Nashville, TN
46
47
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE
48
49
50

Honorable Mentions

These schools earned honorable mentions for public relations & advertising:

Other Public Relations & Advertising Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Public Relations & Advertising rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Public Relations & Advertising
Associate's Degrees in Public Relations & Advertising
Bachelor's Degrees in Public Relations & Advertising
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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 · 605 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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