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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Public Relations & Advertising in Illinois

21 Ranked Colleges
942 Degrees Awarded
$31,900 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 21,099 people earned their degree in public relations and advertising, making the major the 52nd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, public relations and advertising graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $38,287 and had an average of $23,973 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 942 public relations and advertising graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,755 and $23,047 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois” ranking analyzed 21 colleges that offered a degree in public relations and advertising. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their public relations and advertising program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois”.

Top 21 Most Focused Colleges for Public Relations & Advertising in Illinois

1
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Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

Out of the 21 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Bradley University landed the #1 spot on the list. Bradley University is a medium-sized school located in Peoria, Illinois that handed out 69 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Bradley Public Relations & Advertising Report

2
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DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend DePaul University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois list. DePaul University is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 217 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full DePaul University Public Relations & Advertising Report

3
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Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, Illinois

Out of the 21 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Trinity Christian College landed the #3 spot on the list. Trinity Christian College is located in Palos Heights, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s public relations degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Trinity Christian

4
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Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 21 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Loyola University Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 127 degrees to qualified ’s public relations students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Loyola Chicago Public Relations & Advertising Report

5
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Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia College Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois list. Columbia is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 26 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Columbia Public Relations & Advertising Report

6
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Monmouth College
Monmouth, Illinois

Monmouth College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Monmouth, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s public relations students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Monmouth

7

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 247 diplomas to qualified ’s public relations students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

8
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Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #8. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s public relations degrees to 89 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Illinois State University

9
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Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois list. EIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Charleston, Illinois. It awarded 25 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Eastern Illinois University Public Relations & Advertising Report

10
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North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

North Central College ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois list. North Central College is a small school located in Naperville, Illinois that handed out 11 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at North Central

11
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McKendree University
Lebanon, Illinois

McKendree University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois ranking. McKendree University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lebanon, Illinois. It awarded 7 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at McKendree

12
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Dominican University
River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #12. Dominican University is a small school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 8 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Dominican U

13
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Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois list. Olivet Nazarene University is a small school located in Bourbonnais, Illinois that handed out 11 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Olivet Nazarene University

14
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Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois ranking. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 54 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Northwestern

15
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Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, Lewis University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Romeoville, Illinois, and it awarded 9 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Lewis University

16
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Wabash Valley College
Mount Carmel, Illinois

With a ranking of #16, Wabash Valley College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois list. Wabash Valley College is a small school located in Mount Carmel, Illinois that handed out 2 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Wabash Valley College

17
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North Park University
Chicago, Illinois

North Park University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 2 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at North Park University

18
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Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois list. Saint Xavier University is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 2 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at SXU

19
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Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s public relations students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Elmhurst

20

With a ranking of #20, Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public relations degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Illinois Tech Public Relations & Advertising Report

20
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Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Public Relations Major in Illinois list. Roosevelt is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 0 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Roosevelt Public Relations & Advertising Report

Notes and References

References

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