2026 Best Public Relations Schools in Illinois

Public Relations programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public relations programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public relations students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Public Relations Schools in Illinois

Best Schools for Public Relations in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public relations education in Illinois.

Top Schools in Public Relations

1

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

41 Public Relations Degrees Awarded

$43,874 Median Starting Salary

No school ranked higher than Illinois State University this year for public relations. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. About 64% of students finish within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 41 public relations degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $43,874. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500. More information about a degree in public relations from Illinois State University

2

Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL

Associate's Degree Highest Degree Type

11 Public Relations Degrees Awarded

$38,369 Median Starting Salary

Eastern Illinois University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations, ranking #2. This large public university is located in the town of Charleston. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 11 public relations degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $38,369 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,745 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations details for Eastern Illinois University

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 · 8 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.