by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Relations Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a public relations advertising degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 39 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools.
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Below are the schools whose public relations advertising graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the top school for public relations advertising graduate earnings in the United States. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Northwestern University make a median of around $119,177 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Georgetown University one of the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown 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 $104,697.
Students chasing top earnings in public relations advertising will find them at School Of Visual Arts, which ranked #3. School Of Visual Arts is a private for-profit school located in the city of New York. Public Relations Advertising graduates of School Of Visual Arts earn a median of about $91,346 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Colorado Boulder earned it the #4 place for public relations advertising. University Of Colorado Boulder is a public school located in the city of Boulder. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $90,274.
George Washington University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Public Relations Advertising graduates of George Washington University earn a median of about $99,082 a year early in their careers.
Michigan State University earned the #6 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,351.
Boston University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Boston University make a median of around $83,801 per year.
Marist College landed the #8 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Marist College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $86,248.
American University landed the #9 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of American University earn a median of about $87,743 a year early in their careers.
Trinity Washington University landed the #10 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Trinity Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,618.
West Virginia University came in at #11 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. West Virginia University is a public school located in the city of Morgantown. Public Relations Advertising graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of about $85,564 a year early in their careers.
California Baptist University placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of about $70,524 a year early in their careers.
University Of Oregon earned the #13 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a public institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of about $66,763 a year early in their careers.
Depaul University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. 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 $78,943 per year.
The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #15 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from The University Of Texas At Austin make a median of around $82,246 per year.
Rider University came in at #16 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Rider University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Rider University earn a median of about $81,362 a year early in their careers.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Ohio University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Athens. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of about $63,649 a year early in their careers.
Syracuse University earned the #18 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Syracuse University typically earn about $62,662 annually.
Bellevue University landed the #19 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Bellevue University earn a median of about $61,588 a year early in their careers.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #20 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $61,463 a year early in their careers.
Concordia University Saint Paul ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul typically earn about $61,314 annually.
University Of Southern California landed the #22 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $76,312 annually.
Florida State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Florida State University is a public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Florida State University earn a median of about $71,309 a year early in their careers.
Texas Tech University landed the #24 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a public institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of about $59,124 a year early in their careers.
Sacred Heart University landed the #25 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Sacred Heart University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Sacred Heart University make a median of around $58,396 per year.
These schools also send public relations advertising graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
Explore the highest-paying public relations advertising schools at other degree levels:
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 · 39 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.