2021 Highest Paid Public Relations & Advertising Graduates
Finding the Best Public Relations & Advertising School for You
Public Relations & Advertising is the #31 most popular major in the country with 16,785 bachelor's degrees awarded in 2018-2019.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Public Relations Graduates list, to help you choose the best school for you.
This year's Highest Paid Public Relations & Advertising Graduates ranking analyzed 131 colleges that offered a bachelor's degree in public relations.
The numbers used in this ranking are early career salaries, which we define to be 10 years after a student started college. This is the salary typically earned 4-6 years after graduation, but may be different depending on how long a person takes to complete their degree.
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How Much Do Public Relations & Advertising Majors Make After Graduation?
After graduating, public relations and advertising majors that go to school in the United States go on to jobs making an average of $34,735 per year. If salary is one of the most important things on your career list, you may be disappointed to hear that this is 13% less than the salary of a typical college graduate.
College Combat
To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.
2021 Highest Paid Public Relations & Advertising Grads in the United States
Below you'll see a list of the colleges and universities that produce the highest paid public relations and advertising majors.
Top 21 Best Schools for Highly Paid Public Relations Graduates
Our rankings recognize George Washington University as the #1 school in this year's rankings. GWU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Public Relations majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $46,900.
Public Relations majors at GWU take out an average of $21,377 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $231.
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Syracuse University landed the #2 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid public relations and advertising school. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in public relations from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $44,600.
After completing their bachelor's degree, public relations graduates from Syracuse carry an average student debtload of $24,061. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $280, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #3 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Gonzaga University. Gonzaga is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Spokane. Students who receive their bachelor's in public relations from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $44,400.
Public Relations majors at Gonzaga take out an average of $21,646 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $259, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #4 spot in this year's ranking belongs to North Central College. North Central is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Naperville. Students who receive their bachelor's in public relations from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $44,100.
While working on their bachelor's, public relations majors at North Central accumulate an average of around $22,251 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $231.
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The #5 spot in this year's ranking belongs to University of Southern California. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Los Angeles. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, public relations majors make an average salary of $43,800.
After completing their bachelor's degree, public relations graduates from USC carry an average student debtload of $18,173. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $198.
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Assumption University comes in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Worcester, Assumption is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in public relations from the school is $43,200.
The average amount in student loans that public relations majors at Assumption take out while working on their bachelor's is $27,137. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $280, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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American University comes in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in the large city of Washington, The American University is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in public relations from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $42,800.
While working on their bachelor's, public relations majors at The American University accumulate an average of around $20,263 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $236, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #8 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Carthage College. Located in the midsize suburb of Kenosha, Carthage is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in public relations from the school is $42,600.
On average, public relations graduates from Carthage take out $26,355 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $280, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #8 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Northwest Missouri State University. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
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Our rankings recognize Miami University - Oxford as the #9 school in this year's rankings. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami of Ohio is a public college with a large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in public relations from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $42,100.
After completing their bachelor's degree, public relations graduates from Miami of Ohio carry an average student debtload of $21,045. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $236, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #10 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Texas Christian University. TCU is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students who receive their bachelor's in public relations from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $42,100.
On average, public relations graduates from TCU take out $19,728 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $210, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #11 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Southern Methodist University. Located in the suburb of Dallas, SMU is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in public relations from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $41,900.
Public Relations majors at SMU take out an average of $18,315 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $191, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #12 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Drake University. Drake is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Des Moines. Students who receive their bachelor's in public relations from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $41,900.
While working on their bachelor's, public relations majors at Drake accumulate an average of around $18,858 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $197.
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Our rankings recognize Pennsylvania State University - World Campus as the #13 school in this year's rankings. Penn State World Campus is a small public school located in the rural area of University Park. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, public relations majors make an average salary of $41,700.
Public Relations majors at Penn State World Campus take out an average of $22,327 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $254, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Pepperdine University earned the #14 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the large suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, public relations majors make an average salary of $41,700.
On average, public relations graduates from Pepperdine take out $23,397 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $251.
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Pennsylvania State University - University Park comes in at #15 in this year's ranking. Penn State University Park is a very large public school located in the small city of University Park. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, public relations majors make an average salary of $41,700.
On average, public relations graduates from Penn State University Park take out $22,327 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $254, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Our rankings recognize Wayne State University as the #16 school in this year's rankings. Wayne State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Detroit. Public Relations majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $41,400.
While working on their bachelor's, public relations majors at Wayne State accumulate an average of around $27,027 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $272.
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The #17 spot in this year's ranking belongs to San Jose State University. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State is a public school with a fairly large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in public relations from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $41,000.
The average amount in student loans that public relations majors at San Jose State take out while working on their bachelor's is $16,495. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $156, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #18 spot in this year's ranking belongs to The University of Texas at Austin. Located in the city of Austin, UT Austin is a public college with a very large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in public relations from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $41,000.
After completing their bachelor's degree, public relations graduates from UT Austin carry an average student debtload of $19,422. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $207, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Chapman University comes in at #19 in this year's ranking. Chapman is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Orange. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in public relations from the school is $40,700.
On average, public relations graduates from Chapman take out $21,382 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $239, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Chapman University Report
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The #20 spot in this year's ranking belongs to University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign. Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public school with a fairly large student population. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, public relations majors make an average salary of $40,400.
While working on their bachelor's, public relations majors at UIUC accumulate an average of around $19,269 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $213.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
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Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for Public Relations students seeking high pay that almost earned our Highest Paid Public Relations & Advertising Graduates award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Fashion Institute of Technology | New York, NY |
| 30 | Abilene Christian University | Abilene, TX |
| 21 | Brigham Young University - Provo | Provo, UT |
| 22 | New York Institute of Technology | Old Westbury, NY |
| 22 | Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT |
| 23 | Franklin University | Columbus, OH |
| 24 | University of Georgia | Athens, GA |
| 25 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
Public Relations & Advertising by Region
View the Highest Paid Public Relations & Advertising Graduates for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Public Relations & Advertising Related Rankings by Major
Public Relations & Advertising is one of 5 different types of Communication & Journalism programs to choose from.
Most Popular Majors Related to Public Relations
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication & Media Studies | 55,113 |
| Journalism | 12,988 |
| Radio, Television & Digital Communication | 10,624 |
| Communication & Journalism (Other) | 1,002 |
| Publishing | 37 |
View All Public Relations Related Majors >
Notes and 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Bill Koplitz.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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