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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Relations & Advertising in California

14 Ranked Colleges
680 Degrees Awarded
$25,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor's in California

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 20,229 people earned their degree in public relations and advertising, making the major the 53rd most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, public relations and advertising graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,513 and had an average of $25,130 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 841 public relations and advertising graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,392 and $25,434 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 680 public relations and advertising graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered a degree in public relations and advertising. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great public relations and advertising programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the public relations and advertising program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree public relations students.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Relations & Advertising in California

#1

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Jose State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 100 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,928 for California Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students per year to attend San Jose State.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full San Jose State University Public Relations & Advertising Report

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #2 spot on the list. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Long Beach is $9,622 for California Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at CSULB

#3

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Diego State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 31 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public relations students in 2019-2020.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend SDSU is $14,788 for California Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at San Diego State University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Dominguez Hills. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California. CSUDH is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 70 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSUDH, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CSUDH is $4,215 for california bachelor’s degree public relations students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at California State University - Dominguez Hills

#5

National University

La Jolla, California
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, National University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in La Jolla, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public relations students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at National University, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at National University

#6

Pacific Union College

Angwin, California

Pacific Union College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Angwin, California, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

PUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $21,835 for california bachelor’s degree public relations students per year to attend PUC.

Full PUC Public Relations & Advertising Report

#7

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California
#7 in overall quality

Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #7. Located in San Diego, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 17 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public relations students in 2019-2020.

PLNU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Point Loma Nazarene University is $33,044 for california bachelor’s degree public relations students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at PLNU

#8

California Baptist University

Riverside, California

California Baptist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #8. California Baptist University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 22 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Baptist, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal Baptist is $24,707 for california bachelor’s degree public relations students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Cal Baptist

#9

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
#9 in overall quality

Azusa Pacific University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Azusa, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Azusa Pacific also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $26,293 for California Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students per year to attend Azusa Pacific University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Azusa Pacific University Public Relations & Advertising Report

#10

Biola University

La Mirada, California

Biola University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. This medium-sized school is located in La Mirada, California, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

Biola did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Biola University is $31,859 for California Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Biola

#11

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California

University of San Francisco came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. USFCA is a fairly large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 32 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USFCA, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $36,424 for California Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students per year to attend University of San Francisco.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of San Francisco

#12

Chapman University

Orange, California

With a ranking of #12, Chapman University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Located in Orange, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 62 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public relations students in 2019-2020.

Chapman also took the #3 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Chapman is $41,350 for california bachelor’s degree public relations students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Chapman University Public Relations & Advertising Report

#13

Pepperdine University

Malibu, California

With a ranking of #13, Pepperdine University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Malibu, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public relations degrees to 109 students in 2019-2020.

Pepperdine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Pepperdine is $36,996 for california bachelor’s degree public relations students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Pepperdine

#14

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #14, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 100 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public relations students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $29,528 for California Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students per year to attend University of Southern California.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full USC Public Relations & Advertising Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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