2023 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in California
Finding the Best Public Relations & Advertising School for You
In 2020-2021, 861 degrees and certificates were awarded to public relations and advertising students who went to a California college or university. This makes it the #99 most popular major in the state.
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.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 14 schools in California to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
Featured Public Relations & Advertising Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Communication - Public Relations
Prepare to develop your skills in building mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their public audiences.
MA in Communication - Public Relations
Learn how to use the latest technology and tactics to manage the flow of information between brands and the public with your Master's in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations at Southern New Hampshire University.
MA in Communication - New Media & Marketing
Keep your skills and knowledge at the forefront of new media technologies with this specialized online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.
2023 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in California
Check out the public relations programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 10 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools
Our analysis found Pepperdine University to be the best school for public relations and advertising students who want to pursue a degree in California. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
While working on their degree, public relations majors at Pepperdine accumulate an average of around $26,000 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $511.
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The excellent programs at San Jose State University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best public relations and advertising schools in California. San Jose State is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at San Jose State University Report
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in California list. Located in the city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.
Public Relations majors at USC take out an average of $19,500 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $494, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Out of the 14 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of San Francisco landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the large city of San Francisco, USFCA is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
After completing their degree, public relations graduates from USFCA carry an average student debtload of $25,990.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chapman University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in California list. Located in the midsize city of Orange, Chapman is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
While working on their degree, public relations majors at Chapman accumulate an average of around $22,250 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $481.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Chapman University Report
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Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in California ranking. PLNU is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of San Diego.
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With a ranking of #7, Biola University did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations and advertising students. Located in the large suburb of La Mirada, Biola is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their degree, public relations graduates from Biola carry an average student debtload of $19,500.
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With a ranking of #8, San Diego State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations and advertising students. Located in the large city of San Diego, SDSU is a public college with a fairly large student population.
While working on their degree, public relations majors at SDSU accumulate an average of around $17,390 in student debt.
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Azusa Pacific University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for public relations and advertising students. It came in at #9 on the list. Azusa Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa.
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California State University - Long Beach landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best public relations and advertising programs. CSULB is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach.
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Request InformationBest Public Relations & Advertising Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Public Relations & Advertising Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 365 |
| Oregon | 659 |
More Public Relations & Advertising Rankings in California
Rankings in Majors Related to Public Relations
One of 5 majors within the area of study, public relations and advertising has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Related Majors
| 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 14 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.
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