by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Relations Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their public relations advertising graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 49 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools.
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If you want to know which schools send public relations advertising graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Northwestern University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid public relations advertising graduates in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Northwestern University typically earn about $119,177 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Carthage College earned it the #2 place for public relations advertising. Set in the city of Kenosha, Carthage College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Carthage College typically earn about $66,202 annually.
Miami University Hamilton produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public relations advertising, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Hamilton, Miami University Hamilton is a public institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Miami University Hamilton make a median of around $79,160 per year.
Miami University Middletown came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Miami University Middletown is a public school located in the suburb of Middletown. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Miami University Middletown typically earn about $79,160 annually.
Miami University Oxford came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Miami University Oxford is a public school located in the town of Oxford. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of about $79,160 a year early in their careers.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign make a median of around $75,277 per year.
North Central College earned the #7 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. North Central College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from North Central College typically earn about $66,959 annually.
Michigan State University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $71,719 a year early in their careers.
Loyola University Chicago placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,395.
Illinois State University earned the #10 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,349.
Depaul University came in at #11 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Depaul University typically earn about $69,796 annually.
Marquette University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Marquette University typically earn about $64,008 annually.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus make a median of around $59,879 per year.
Xavier University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Xavier University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Xavier University typically earn about $58,699 annually.
Central Michigan University came in at #15 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a public institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Central Michigan University make a median of around $60,505 per year.
Kent State University At Kent placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a public institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,496.
Wayne State University came in at #17 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Wayne State University make a median of around $58,814 per year.
Indiana Wesleyan University earned the #18 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University typically earn about $48,225 annually.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global came in at #19 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,225.
Otterbein University placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Otterbein University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Otterbein University make a median of around $63,902 per year.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a public institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of about $63,649 a year early in their careers.
Franklin University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Franklin University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Franklin University typically earn about $47,326 annually.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #23 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Eastern Michigan University is a public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University typically earn about $54,771 annually.
Capital University earned the #24 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Capital University make a median of around $48,600 per year.
Columbia College Chicago placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of about $56,607 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning public relations advertising graduates:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries public relations advertising graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 49 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.