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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the early-career earnings of their public relations advertising graduates.
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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.
For graduate earnings in public relations advertising, no school beat Drake University this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Drake University make a median of around $75,436 per year.
Northwest Missouri State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in public relations advertising, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University typically earn about $56,065 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Southeast Missouri State University earned it the #3 place for public relations advertising. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of about $67,273 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Iowa State University earned it the #4 place for public relations advertising. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,153.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Northern Iowa earned it the #5 place for public relations advertising. University Of Northern Iowa is a public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,636.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Early-career public relations advertising graduates from Missouri State University Springfield make a median of around $62,059 per year.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of about $58,750 a year early in their careers.
Loras College earned the #8 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Loras College typically earn about $58,304 annually.
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,541.
Northwestern College Minnesota came in at #10 for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Northwestern College Minnesota earn a median of about $54,276 a year early in their careers.
Minnesota State University Moorhead landed the #11 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead typically earn about $54,974 annually.
Webster University landed the #12 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Webster University earn a median of about $48,750 a year early in their careers.
South Dakota State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying public relations advertising schools. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of about $50,823 a year early in their careers.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #14 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,415.
Simpson College earned the #15 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Simpson College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Indianola. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Simpson College earn a median of about $41,925 a year early in their careers.
College Of The Ozarks landed the #16 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Located in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a private not-for-profit institution. Public Relations Advertising graduates of College Of The Ozarks earn a median of about $37,116 a year early in their careers.
Evangel University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for public relations advertising. Located in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, public relations advertising degree recipients from Evangel University typically earn about $36,585 annually.
Lindenwood University landed the #18 spot for public relations advertising salaries this year. Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. Students who complete the public relations advertising program here go on to a median salary of roughly $40,468.
Drury University earned the #19 position for public relations advertising graduate earnings this year. Drury University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Public Relations Advertising graduates of Drury University earn a median of about $33,862 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their public relations advertising graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 19 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.
