by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Relations Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a public relations advertising degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose public relations advertising graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 for public relations advertising graduate salaries in Illinois. Set 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 University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #2 place for public relations advertising. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,277.
Strong graduate earnings at North Central College earned it the #3 place for public relations advertising. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from North Central College make a median of around $66,959 per year.
Loyola University Chicago produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public relations advertising, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Loyola University Chicago make a median of around $67,395 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in public relations advertising will find them at Illinois State University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a public institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of about $62,349 a year early in their careers.
Depaul University came in at #6 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Depaul University make a median of around $69,796 per year.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #7 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Columbia College Chicago make a median of around $56,607 per year.
Illinois Media School earned the #8 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Illinois Media School is a private 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 $21,902.
Illinois Media School Chicago Campus placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Media School Chicago Campus is a private for-profit institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Illinois Media School Chicago Campus make a median of around $21,902 per year.
Bradley University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Bradley University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Bradley University earn a median of about $56,266 a year early in their careers.
Eastern Illinois University came in at #11 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Eastern Illinois University is a public school located in the town of Charleston. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University typically earn about $38,369 annually.
Lewis University came in at #12 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $24,202.
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 · 12 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.