by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 497 U.S. colleges awarded 20,547 degrees and certificates in Public Relations & Advertising. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 77% of graduates. College Factual ranks 241 schools in its 2027 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,684 one year after completing, rising to $67,080 after four years.
Are you interested in a fast-paced career that allows you to do something different every day? Do you enjoy being creative and multi-tasking? A career in Public Relations or Advertising might be for you.
Public Relations specialists work to create a positive image for their clients. These clients include celebrities, brands, and organizations, among many more. In order to shape this reputation, specialists must be strong, creative writers and have the interpersonal skills to develop relationships with the media and those who will share information and spread the name of the client. Students will take classes in image management, media campaigns, newswriting, broadcast media, videography, and speech writing along with businesses classes to acquire these necessary skills.
Schools offer the option to major in either general Public Relations or Advertising or you may decide to specialize in a certain area. Some areas of specialization include Organizational Communication, Public Relations/Image Management, Political Communication, Health Communication, Sports Communication, International and Intercultural Communication, and Technical and Scientific Communication.
A degree in Public Relations & Advertising covers Public Relations, Advertising, And Applied Communication.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, public relations & advertising is a widely-pursued major, with 20,547 degrees awarded annually. 497 colleges award public relations & advertising degrees, an average of 41 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 920.
By level, the 20,547 awards include 90 certificates, 453 associate degrees, 15,800 bachelor’s degrees, 4,144 master’s degrees and 43 doctorates.
Women earned 72% of public relations & advertising degrees and certificates in the latest year (14,827 of 20,547). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (12,107) and Hispanic or Latino (3,262), and international students earned 981.
College Factual ranks 241 schools in its 2027 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking, including 5 for associate degrees, 192 for bachelor’s degrees and 66 for master’s degrees. It also ranks public relations & advertising schools within 45 states. In all, 497 colleges offer public relations & advertising programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common public relations & advertising credential is the bachelor’s degree: 15,800 of the 20,547 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to public relations & advertising call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Communications and Media and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
In this major, as with any major in the Communications field, there is a heavy emphasis on clear writing skills. Specialists spend much of their day writing press releases, emails to clients or media members, speeches, annual reports, or pitches making writing extremely important. This career also caters to a student who is a people person and is able to handle multiple projects at once. Strong organizational and critical thinking skills will make you successful in this field.
Public Relations specialists work full time and often have long days that cause the workweek to extend over 40 hours. Depending on the project they are working on, specialists may work in the evenings and on weekends.
Public Relations and advertising employers often require experience before hiring. Graduates must pay their dues before moving into management positions. This is often done through internships. Interning while working towards your degree will allow you to gain valuable experience within the field making you a more desirable candidate.
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How long a public relations & advertising degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 90 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 453 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 15,800 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,144 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 43 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to public relations & advertising, at 39.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 39.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 8.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
17 occupations are related to Public Relations & Advertising, with an average median salary of $94,074; the strongest outlook belongs to Community Health Workers, at 13.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Instructor, Adjunct Communications Faculty Member, Journalism Professor and Rhetoric Professor.
A degree in Public Relations and Advertising opens up many career possibilities. Since you will take classes that improve your writing, communication, and organizational skills, you will be considered an asset to many companies. Graduates may find jobs with agencies or working for a company as their in house publicist.
The occupation related to public relations & advertising with the most projected jobs is Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, at 919,494.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Technical Writers | 396,969 | 6.9% |
| Training and Development Managers | 394,938 | -0.4% |
| Fundraising Managers | 340,731 | -1.0% |
| Fundraisers | 340,575 | 12.6% |
| Public Relations Managers | 337,124 | 7.0% |
Public Relations & Advertising graduates earn a median $43,684 one year after completing their program, $67,080 after four years and $64,953 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,684 |
| 4 years | $67,080 |
| 5 years | $64,953 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to public relations & advertising is Public Relations Managers, with a median salary of $139,736.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Public Relations Managers | $139,736 |
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Fundraisers | $118,069 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $113,521 |
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | $108,419 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $103,749 |
| Editors | $100,346 |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $96,762 |
Public Relations & Advertising includes 11 concentrations that together award 20,547 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Advertising (4,633), Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (4,246) and Public Relations/Image Management (4,191). It has 5 similar majors in the Communication & Journalism field, which together award 87,936 degrees a year; the largest are Communication, General (55,601), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (19,210) and Journalism (11,474). Browse all Communication & Journalism majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication, General | 55,601 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 19,210 |
| Journalism | 11,474 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | 1,269 |
| Publishing | 382 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
