2026 Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in the Southwest Region
Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public relations, advertising, & applied communication programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public relations, advertising, & applied communication students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication in the Southwest 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
No school ranked higher than Texas Christian University this year for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 114 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $48,053 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,148.
More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from Texas Christian University
Texas Tech University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Texas Tech University awarded about 76 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $50,074 in their early career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Texas Tech University
Students looking for a strong public relations, advertising, & applied communication program will find one at University Of Houston, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 112 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $42,472 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,800.
Get the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication details for University Of Houston
University Of Central Oklahoma is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #4 spot this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edmond. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Oklahoma in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from University Of Central Oklahoma earn around $36,388 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
Read more about the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program at University Of Central Oklahoma
A rank of #5 makes El Paso Community College one of the top schools for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. About 17 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at El Paso Community College in the most recent year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete this degree.
See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for El Paso Community College
Narrow Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools by State
More Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Rankings
View All Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 9 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.
