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2026 Best Public Relations Master’s Degree Schools

11 Colleges in the United States
1,142 Public Relations Degrees Awarded
$55,854 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Relations degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 182 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 Schools for Public Relations in the United States

See the highest-ranked public relations schools offering a master’s degree below.

Top Schools in Public Relations

1
Georgetown University crest
Georgetown University
Washington, DC

No school ranked higher than Georgetown University this year for public relations. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 94 public relations degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $91,362. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations details for Georgetown University

2
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Students looking for a strong public relations program will find one at Boston University, which ranked #2. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 40 public relations degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations program make about $73,982 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232. Read more about the public relations program at Boston University

3

George Washington University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations, ranking #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 84% of students finish within six years. George Washington University awarded about 11 public relations degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $73,569. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Get the full public relations details for George Washington University

4

Southern Methodist University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public relations, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 public relations students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $51,828 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations details for Southern Methodist University

5

A rank of #5 makes Quinnipiac University one of the top schools for public relations. Located in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 31 public relations degrees were awarded at Quinnipiac University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations program make about $43,591 in their early career. Quinnipiac University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in public relations from Quinnipiac University

6

The University Of Alabama came in at #6 for public relations this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Alabama awarded about 208 public relations degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations program make about $42,445 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations details for The University Of Alabama

7

The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #7 position for public relations this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 134 public relations degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $54,561 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,995. See the full public relations program report for The University Of Texas At Austin

8
American University crest
American University
Washington, DC

American University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best public relations schools. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 56 public relations students who graduated with this degree at American University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations program make about $63,727 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,442. Read more about the public relations program at American University

9

University Of Oregon came in at #9 for public relations this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Eugene. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 142 public relations students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oregon in the most recent data year. Public Relations graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $66,763 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the public relations program at University Of Oregon

10
Temple University crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA

Temple University landed the #10 spot for public relations this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Temple University awarded about 56 public relations degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations degree from Temple University earn around $41,165 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full public relations program report for Temple University

11
Syracuse University crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University placed #11 among the best public relations schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. Syracuse University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 11 public relations degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations program make about $62,662 in their early career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the public relations program at Syracuse University

12

Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best public relations schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 public relations students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent data year. See the full public relations program report for Pennsylvania State University World Campus

13

University Of Maryland University College came in at #13 for public relations this year. Set in the suburb of Adelphi, University Of Maryland University College is a very large public institution. University Of Maryland University College graduates 20% of students within six years. There were roughly 64 public relations students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland University College in the most recent data year. Public Relations graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of $65,890 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,276. More information about a degree in public relations from University Of Maryland University College

14
Rowan University crest
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ

Rowan University came in at #14 for public relations this year. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. About 67% of students finish within six years. Rowan University awarded about 19 public relations degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations program make about $35,116 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations details for Rowan University

15

Texas Tech University came in at #15 for public relations this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Texas Tech University graduates 69% of students within six years. Texas Tech University awarded about 131 public relations degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations program make about $59,124 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations details for Texas Tech University

16
Kean University crest
Kean University
Union, NJ

Kean University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best public relations schools. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. Kean University graduates 47% of students within six years. Kean University awarded about 10 public relations degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations graduates of Kean University earn a median of $48,705 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,703. More information about a degree in public relations from Kean University

17

Suffolk University came in at #17 for public relations this year. Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 public relations students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk University in the most recent data year. Public Relations graduates of Suffolk University earn a median of $44,863 early in their careers. Suffolk University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the public relations program at Suffolk University

18
Hofstra University crest
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY

Hofstra University placed #18 among the best public relations schools. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 12 public relations degrees were awarded at Hofstra University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations degree from Hofstra University earn around $56,529 in the first couple years of their career. Hofstra University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in public relations from Hofstra University

19

Georgia Southern University placed #19 among the best public relations schools. Located in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 25 public relations students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Southern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations degree from Georgia Southern University earn around $47,921 in the first couple years of their career. Georgia Southern University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read more about the public relations program at Georgia Southern University

20
Full Sail University crest
Full Sail University
Winter Park, FL

Full Sail University came in at #20 for public relations this year. Set in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 public relations degrees were awarded at Full Sail University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations degree from Full Sail University earn around $37,416 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $32,103. See the full public relations program report for Full Sail University

Other Public Relations Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Public Relations rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Public Relations
Associate's Degrees in Public Relations
Bachelor's Degrees in Public Relations
View All Public Relations Rankings >

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 · 182 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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