2023 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools
Finding the Best Public Relations & Advertising School for You
Public Relations & Advertising is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 9th of all the majors we analyze. In <nil>, 21,275 degrees and certificates were awarded to students with this major.
Today's business students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Business Degree Central has created its Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking. This report analyzed 312 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best programs for business students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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2023 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the United States
Check out the public relations programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 25 Top Schools in Public Relations & Advertising
Our analysis found Georgetown University to be the best school for public relations & advertising students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Located in the large city of Washington, Georgetown is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, public relations majors at Georgetown accumulate an average of around $49,149 in student debt.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Georgetown University Report
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Florida is a great place for public relations & advertising students. UF is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville.
After completing their degree, public relations graduates from UF carry an average student debtload of $15,321. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $333, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Out of the 312 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the # 3 spot on the list. UT Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin.
After completing their degree, public relations graduates from UT Austin carry an average student debtload of $34,030. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $348.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at The University of Texas at Austin
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Northwestern University is a great place for public relations & advertising students. Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Evanston.
Public Relations majors at Northwestern take out an average of $54,057 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Northwestern University Report
Out of the 312 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Elon University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
Marquette University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best public relations & advertising programs. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
The average amount in student loans that public relations majors at Marquette take out is $24,286. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $617, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Marquette University Report
Villanova University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for public relations & advertising students. It came in at #7 on the list. Villanova is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Villanova University Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for public relations & advertising students. It came in at #8 on the list. UIUC is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign.
The average amount in student loans that public relations majors at UIUC take out is $21,875. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $496, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
With a ranking of #9, Drake University did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations & advertising students. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their degree, public relations majors at Drake accumulate an average of around $21,500 in student debt.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Drake University
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for public relations & advertising students. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public school with a very large student population.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Report
University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best public relations & advertising programs. UW - Madison is a very large public school located in the large city of Madison.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at University of Wisconsin - Madison Report
University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best public relations & advertising programs. Located in the large city of Lincoln, UNL is a public college with a very large student population.
The average amount in student loans that public relations majors at UNL take out is $22,102. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $491.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Nebraska - Lincoln
University of Dayton came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking. UDayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Dayton.
With a ranking of #14, University of Florida-Online did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations & advertising students. Located in the midsize city of Gainesville, UF Online is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average amount in student loans that public relations majors at UF Online take out is $15,321. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $333, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Florida-Online
Southern Methodist University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best public relations & advertising programs. SMU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas.
The average amount in student loans that public relations majors at SMU take out is $19,500. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $728.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Southern Methodist University
Pepperdine University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for public relations & advertising students. It came in at #16 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
While working on their degree, public relations majors at Pepperdine accumulate an average of around $24,112 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $941.
With a ranking of #17, University of Colorado Boulder did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations & advertising students. Located in the midsize city of Boulder, CU - Boulder is a public college with a very large student population.
After completing their degree, public relations graduates from CU - Boulder carry an average student debtload of $18,500. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $905.
With a ranking of #18, Miami University - Oxford did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations & advertising students. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school located in the town of Oxford.
Public Relations majors at Miami University - Oxford take out an average of $23,500 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $749.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Miami University - Oxford Report
Illinois Media School came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Lombard, Illinois Media School is a private for-profit college with a fairly small student population.
The average amount in student loans that public relations majors at Illinois Media School take out is $10,666.
George Washington University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Washington, GWU is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.
After completing their degree, public relations graduates from GWU carry an average student debtload of $37,252.
Fairfield University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for public relations & advertising students. It came in at #21 on the list. Fairfield U is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Fairfield.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Fairfield University
San Jose State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list. San Jose State is a very large public school located in the large city of San Jose.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at San Jose State University Report
University of Southern California landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best public relations & advertising programs. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.
On average, public relations graduates from USC take out $50,963 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $547.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at University of Southern California Report
With a ranking of #24, Syracuse University did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations & advertising students. Syracuse is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Syracuse.
While working on their degree, public relations majors at Syracuse accumulate an average of around $47,832 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $720.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Syracuse University Report
With a ranking of #25, Michigan State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations & advertising students. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State is a public college with a very large student population.
Public Relations majors at Michigan State take out an average of $22,605 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $560, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Michigan State University Report
Rest of the Top Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools
Honorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Washington State University | Pullman, WA |
| 48 | Simpson College | Indianola, IA |
| 49 | Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, NY |
| 50 | University of Oklahoma Norman Campus | Norman, OK |
| 51 | Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, OH |
| 52 | Xavier University | Cincinnati, OH |
| 53 | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC |
| 54 | Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, IL |
| 55 | North Central College | Naperville, IL |
| 56 | Siena Heights University | Adrian, MI |
| 57 | University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls, IA |
| 58 | Carthage College | Kenosha, WI |
| 59 | Illinois State University | Normal, IL |
| 60 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL |
| 61 | School of Visual Arts | New York, NY |
| 62 | The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL |
Public Relations & Advertising by Region
View the Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Other U.S. Territories |
| Great Lakes |
Rankings in Majors Related to Public Relations
Public Relations Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Relations | 5,039 |
| Advertising | 4,655 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication | 4,517 |
| General Organizational Communication | 1,905 |
| Communication Management and Strategic Communications | 1,802 |
| Other Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication | 1,409 |
| Sports Communication | 943 |
| Health Communication | 424 |
| Technical & Scientific Communication | 203 |
| Political Communication | 195 |
| International & Intercultural Communication | 183 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Bill Koplitz.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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