Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor's Degree Schools

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor's Degree Schools

245 Colleges
$36,703 Avg Salary
$24,522 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor's Degree School for You

Public Relations & Advertising is the #52 most popular major in the country with 21,099 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

The Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 245 schools in the United States to see which bachelor's degree programs offered the best educational experiences for students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States

The following schools top our list of the Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor's Degree Colleges.

Top 25 Top Schools for a Bachelor's in Public Relations & Advertising

Our 2023 rankings named The University of Texas at Austin the best school in the United States for public relations and advertising students working on their bachelor’s degree. UT Austin is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Austin.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, public relations graduates from UT Austin carry an average student debtload of $21,049. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $253, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Public Relations & Advertising at The University of Texas at Austin Report

#2

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. UF is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Gainesville.

Public Relations majors at UF take out an average of $17,700 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $234, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#3

Elon University

Elon, NC

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Elon University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Elon, Elon is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

Read More…

#4

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Marquette University is a great place for public relations and advertising students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

Public Relations majors at Marquette take out an average of $22,724 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $593, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Marquette University

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Southern California helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best public relations and advertising schools in the United States. Located in the city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

On average, public relations graduates from USC take out $18,506 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $494, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Public Relations & Advertising at University of Southern California Report

With a ranking of #6, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations and advertising students working on their bachelor’s degree. UIUC is a very large public school located in the small city of Champaign.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, public relations majors at UIUC accumulate an average of around $19,396 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $428, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Public Relations & Advertising at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Report

#7

Drake University

Des Moines, IA

Drake University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Des Moines, Drake is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

On average, public relations graduates from Drake take out $19,993 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $353, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Drake University

#8

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY

Syracuse University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Syracuse is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Syracuse.

This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $588, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

Southern Methodist University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for public relations and advertising students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #9 on the list. SMU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Dallas.

Full Public Relations & Advertising at Southern Methodist University Report

#10

University of Florida-Online

Gainesville, FL

University of Florida-Online came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Gainesville, UF Online is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, public relations majors at UF Online accumulate an average of around $17,700 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $234, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Florida-Online

With a ranking of #11, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations and advertising students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public school with a very large student population.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#12

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA

With a ranking of #12, Pepperdine University did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations and advertising students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, public relations majors at Pepperdine accumulate an average of around $22,750 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $511.

Full Public Relations & Advertising at Pepperdine University Report

With a ranking of #13, University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations and advertising students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large city of Lincoln, UNL is a public school with a very large student population.

On average, public relations graduates from UNL take out $20,687 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $355.

Full Public Relations & Advertising at University of Nebraska - Lincoln Report

#14

George Washington University

Washington, DC

With a ranking of #14, George Washington University did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations and advertising students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large city of Washington, GWU is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.

Full Public Relations & Advertising at George Washington University Report

#15

American University

Washington, DC

American University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. The American University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Washington.

Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $742.

Full Public Relations & Advertising at American University Report

University of Colorado Boulder came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the midsize city of Boulder, CU - Boulder is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, public relations majors at CU - Boulder accumulate an average of around $18,053 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $619.

Full Public Relations & Advertising at University of Colorado Boulder Report

Miami University - Oxford ranked #17 on this year’s Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. Miami University - Oxford is a large public school located in the fringe town of Oxford.

The average amount in student loans that public relations majors at Miami University - Oxford take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $21,564. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $511.

Full Public Relations & Advertising at Miami University - Oxford Report

#18

University of Georgia

Athens, GA

University of Georgia came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the midsize city of Athens, UGA is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, public relations graduates from UGA carry an average student debtload of $21,880. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $274.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Georgia

#19

Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT

Fairfield University landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree public relations and advertising programs. Fairfield U is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Fairfield.

Full Public Relations & Advertising at Fairfield University Report

#20

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree public relations and advertising programs. Located in the small city of East Lansing, Michigan State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, public relations graduates from Michigan State carry an average student debtload of $24,007. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $511.

Full Public Relations & Advertising at Michigan State University Report

#21

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools list. San Jose State is a very large public school located in the large city of San Jose.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at San Jose State University

#22

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA

With a ranking of #22, University of San Francisco did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations and advertising students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large city of San Francisco, USFCA is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

Read More…

#23

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX

Texas Christian University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Fort Worth, TCU is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

On average, public relations graduates from TCU take out $20,179 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $649, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

Miami University - Hamilton landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best bachelor’s degree public relations and advertising programs. Located in the suburb of Hamilton, Miami University - Hamilton is a public school with a small student population.

On average, public relations graduates from Miami University - Hamilton take out $21,564 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $511.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Miami University - Hamilton

With a ranking of #25, Iowa State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations and advertising students working on their bachelor’s degree. Iowa State is a very large public school located in the city of Ames.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, public relations graduates from Iowa State carry an average student debtload of $22,825. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $236.

Read More…

Rest of the Top Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor's Degree Schools

#26

Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY
#27

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA
#28

University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL
#29

Chapman University

Orange, CA
#31

Franklin University

Columbus, OH
#34

Northwood University

Midland, MI
#35

Miami University - Middletown

Middletown, OH

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Public Relations & Advertising students that almost earned our Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
37 Washington State University Pullman, WA
38 Emerson College Boston, MA
39 Simpson College Indianola, IA
40 University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Norman, OK
41 Baldwin Wallace University Berea, OH
42 Xavier University Cincinnati, OH
43 Appalachian State University Boone, NC
44 Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL
45 University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA
46 North Central College Naperville, IL
47 Siena Heights University Adrian, MI
48 Carthage College Kenosha, WI
49 Illinois State University Normal, IL

Public Relations & Advertising by Region

View the Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

One of 5 majors within the area of study, public relations and advertising has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Communication & Media Studies 66,787
Radio, Television & Digital Communication 17,669
Journalism 13,552
Communication & Journalism (Other) 1,128
Publishing 336

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Bill Koplitz.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.