2023 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Southeast Region
Finding the Best Public Relations & Advertising School for You
Out of all the majors we analyze each year, public relations and advertising was ranked #52 in the country. In fact 21,099 degrees and certificates were handed out 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.
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 the Southeast Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 66 schools in the Southeast Region 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 the Southeast Region
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 2023 rankings named University of Florida the best school in the Southeast Region for public relations and advertising students. UF is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville.
While working on their degree, public relations majors at UF accumulate an average of around $17,500 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $234, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Out of the 66 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Elon University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Elon, Elon is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
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The excellent programs at University of Florida-Online helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best public relations and advertising schools in the Southeast Region . Located in the midsize city of Gainesville, UF Online is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
While working on their degree, public relations majors at UF Online accumulate an average of around $17,500 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $234, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Out of the 66 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Georgia landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Athens, UGA is a public school with a very large student population.
On average, public relations graduates from UGA take out $21,361 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $274.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Miami. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the small city of Coral Gables, U Miami is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
On average, public relations graduates from U Miami take out $17,250 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $434.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at University of Miami Report
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Appalachian State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State is a public school with a very large student population.
After completing their degree, public relations graduates from Appalachian State carry an average student debtload of $22,521. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $291.
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The University of Alabama did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for public relations and advertising students. It came in at #7 on the list. UA is a very large public school located in the small city of Tuscaloosa.
On average, public relations graduates from UA take out $25,000 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $934, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Wingate University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Southeast Region list. Wingate is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Wingate.
While working on their degree, public relations majors at Wingate accumulate an average of around $22,500 in student debt.
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Belmont 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. Belmont is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Nashville.
After completing their degree, public relations graduates from Belmont carry an average student debtload of $26,998.
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With a ranking of #10, Florida International University did quite well on this year’s best schools for public relations and advertising students. Located in the large suburb of Miami, FIU is a public college with a very large student population.
The average amount in student loans that public relations majors at FIU take out is $12,687.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Florida International University
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Here are some additional great schools for Public Relations & Advertising students in the Southeast Region that almost earned our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Southeast Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville | Knoxville, TN |
| 12 | University of South Carolina - Columbia | Columbia, SC |
| 13 | University of Mississippi | University, MS |
Best Public Relations & Advertising Colleges by State
Explore the best public relations and advertising colleges for a specific state in the Southeast region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Georgia | 639 |
| Virginia | 84 |
| North Carolina | 422 |
| Florida | 1,747 |
| Tennessee | 281 |
| Kentucky | 453 |
| South Carolina | 347 |
| Louisiana | 133 |
| Arkansas | 134 |
| Alabama | 477 |
| Mississippi | 64 |
| West Virginia | 114 |
More Public Relations & Advertising Rankings in the Southeast Region
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 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.