2026 Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Master’s Degree Schools
Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication 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, & applied communication programs.
College Factual analyzed 208 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools.
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Best Schools for Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication in the United States
Below are the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication
Our analysis ranked Georgetown University the best school in the country for a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication. 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. Georgetown University awarded about 93 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from Georgetown University earn around $91,362 in the first couple years of their career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Delaware one of the top schools for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 35 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at University Of Delaware in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from University Of Delaware earn around $54,155 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans.
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Marist College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, ranking #3. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Marist College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $70,802. Marist College graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong public relations, advertising, & applied communication program will find one at Florida State University, which ranked #4. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 62 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,722. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $13,849 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong public relations, advertising, & applied communication program will find one at University Of Southern California, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 105 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $50,634 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,251.
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Syracuse University earned the #6 position for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 93 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $62,662. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #7 for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. About 34% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent data year.
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Texas Tech University landed the #8 spot for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 46 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $59,124. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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Sacred Heart University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Fairfield. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 38 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Sacred Heart University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from Sacred Heart University earn around $58,396 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Tampa earned the #10 position for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Tampa. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 98 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at The University Of Tampa in the most recent year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of The University Of Tampa earn a median of $36,977 early in their careers. The University Of Tampa graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Colorado State University Fort Collins awarded about 11 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $51,693 early in their careers. Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans.
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University Of Mississippi Main Campus placed #12 among the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates 72% of students within six years. About 50 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $43,057 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete this degree.
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The University Of West Florida earned the #13 position for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. The University Of West Florida awarded about 18 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $52,014 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,677.
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Ball State University earned the #14 position for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Muncie. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $38,020 early in their careers. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $23,879 in student loans.
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University Of North Florida landed the #15 spot for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. This large public university is located in the city of Jacksonville. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $48,628 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,523 to complete this degree.
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Coastal Carolina University came in at #16 for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public university. Coastal Carolina University graduates 48% of students within six years. About 12 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Coastal Carolina University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $38,272 in their early career. Coastal Carolina University graduates carry a median of $27,174 in student loans.
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California Baptist University placed #17 among the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. 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. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $65,547 in their early career. California Baptist University graduates carry a median of $22,718 in student loans.
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Middle Georgia State University landed the #18 spot for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Set in the city of Macon, Middle Georgia State University is a large public institution. About 24% of students finish within six years. About 10 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Middle Georgia State University in the most recent year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Middle Georgia State University earn a median of $48,207 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,976 to complete this degree.
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University Of Sacred Heart came in at #19 for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the city of Santurce, University Of Sacred Heart is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. About 65 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at University Of Sacred Heart in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $32,818 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,375 to complete this degree.
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Other Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication rankings across degree levels:
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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 · 208 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.