2026 Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in the Far Western Region
Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools to find the best for public relations, advertising, & applied communication students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication
Leading the list is Washington State University, our #1 school for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 65 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Washington State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from Washington State University earn around $45,820 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Washington State University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. 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%. There were roughly 105 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from University Of Southern California earn around $50,338 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $20,251 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from University Of Southern California
Chapman University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 31 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $40,141 early in their careers. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from Chapman University
Pepperdine University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication 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. Pepperdine University awarded about 12 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $45,988. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Azusa Pacific University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Azusa Pacific University awarded about 15 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication 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, & applied communication program report for Azusa Pacific University
Biola University placed #6 among the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of La Mirada. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Biola University awarded about 14 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $36,319 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,104 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from Biola University
National University landed the #7 spot for public relations, advertising, & applied communication 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, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication 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.
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California Baptist University came in at #8 for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Riverside. California Baptist University graduates 62% of students within six years. California Baptist University awarded about 11 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from California Baptist University earn around $49,165 in the first couple years of their career. California Baptist University graduates carry a median of $22,718 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
- 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
