by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 144 U.S. colleges awarded 4,191 degrees and certificates in Public Relations. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 86% of graduates. College Factual ranks 74 schools in its 2027 Best Public Relations 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.
Studying Public Relations explores Public Relations/image Management. A Program That Focuses On The Theories And Methods For Managing The Media Image Of A Business, Organization, Or Individual And The Communication Process With Stakeholders, Constituencies, Audiences, And The General Public; And That Prepares Individuals To Function As Public Relations Assistants, Technicians, And Managers. Includes Instruction In Public Relations Theory; Related Principles Of Advertising, Marketing, And Journalism; Message/image Design; Image Management; Special Event Management; Media Relations; Community Relations; Public Affairs; And Internal Communications. Examples: [Social Media Management].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., public relations is a popular field of study, with 4,191 degrees awarded annually. 144 colleges award public relations degrees, an average of 29 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 233.
By level, the 4,191 awards include 43 certificates, 30 associate degrees, 3,601 bachelor’s degrees and 504 master’s degrees.
Women earned 82% of public relations degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,417 of 4,191). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,551) and Hispanic or Latino (649), and international students earned 181.
College Factual ranks 74 schools in its 2027 Best Public Relations Schools ranking, including 70 for bachelor’s degrees and 19 for master’s degrees. It also ranks public relations schools within 28 states. In all, 144 colleges offer public relations programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Public Relations Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common public relations credential is the bachelor’s degree: 3,601 of the 4,191 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to public relations call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Communications and Media and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a public relations degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 43 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 30 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,601 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 504 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to public relations, at 43.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.9% |
| Master’s degree | 34.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.5% |
| Some college courses | 4.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Public Relations, with an average median salary of $110,266; the strongest outlook belongs to Fundraisers, at 12.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Campaign Manager, Rhetoric Professor, Instructor and College Faculty Member.
The occupation related to public relations with the most projected jobs is Communications Teachers, Postsecondary, at 919,494.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Fundraising Managers | 340,731 | -1.0% |
| Fundraisers | 340,575 | 12.6% |
| Public Relations Managers | 337,124 | 7.0% |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 324,973 | -3.3% |
| Public Relations Specialists | 288,926 | -3.5% |
Public Relations 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 is Public Relations Managers, with a median salary of $139,736.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Public Relations Managers | $139,736 |
| Fundraisers | $118,069 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $113,521 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $103,749 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
| Fundraising Managers | $90,350 |
Public Relations has 10 similar majors in the Communication & Journalism field, which together award 16,356 degrees a year; the largest are Advertising (4,633), Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (4,246) and Communication Management and Strategic Communications (2,072). Browse all Communication & Journalism majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Advertising | 4,633 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 4,246 |
| Communication Management and Strategic Communications | 2,072 |
| Organizational Communication, General | 1,837 |
| Sports Communication | 1,509 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other | 1,165 |
| Health Communication | 365 |
| Political Communication | 196 |
| Technical and Scientific Communication | 175 |
| International and Intercultural Communication | 158 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
