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Public Relations and Advertising: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Programs in Public Relations and Advertising prepare students to shape perceptions, build brand identity, and foster strategic communication within organizations and across diverse publics. This interdisciplinary field integrates core principles of messaging, media engagement, and audience analysis to support effective outreach and influence in both corporate and non-profit environments.

  • Strategic Communication Planning: Developing comprehensive communication campaigns tailored to specific goals, audiences, and organizational missions, ensuring alignment with broader business or advocacy objectives.
  • Media Relations and Outreach: Crafting and distributing press materials, managing media inquiries, and cultivating relationships with journalists and influencers to enhance visibility and credibility.
  • Brand Development and Identity: Designing cohesive visual and verbal branding strategies that communicate a consistent, compelling image across platforms and touchpoints.
  • Advertising Campaigns and Execution: Creating persuasive advertising content across digital, print, broadcast, and social media channels, with emphasis on targeting, messaging, and performance analytics.
  • Public Affairs and Crisis Communication: Preparing organizations to respond effectively to public scrutiny, manage reputational risks, and maintain trust during periods of uncertainty or controversy.
  • Digital and Social Media Strategy: Leveraging data-driven approaches to optimize engagement, track campaign performance, and maintain a dynamic presence across evolving digital platforms.
  • Consumer Behavior and Audience Analysis: Studying how individuals and groups respond to messaging, enabling the creation of targeted, impactful communication that resonates with specific demographics.

Public Relations and Advertising Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

1,296
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
46
Universities & Colleges
N/A
Career Pathways

Public Relations and Advertising Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Public Relations and Advertising degrees, including . These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements.


Career salary data is not available for this program.

Top Universities for Public Relations and Advertising by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 46 institutions offering Public Relations and Advertising programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Public Relations and Advertising is found at Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus (319 graduates), Utah Valley University (UVU) (115 graduates), Arkansas State University (A-State) (95 graduates), DePaul University (87 graduates), and Loyola University Chicago (LUC) (75 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,296 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name Award Levels Graduates Location Control Website
Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor's
319 University Park, Pennsylvania Public psu.edu
Utah Valley University (UVU)
Bachelor's
115 Orem, Utah Public uvu.edu
Arkansas State University (A-State)
Bachelor's
Master's
95 Jonesboro, Arkansas Public astate.edu
DePaul University
Bachelor's
Master's
87 Chicago, Illinois Private depaul.edu
Loyola University Chicago (LUC)
Bachelor's
75 Chicago, Illinois Private luc.edu
Butler University
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
70 Indianapolis, Indiana Private butler.edu
University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)
Master's
63 Wilmington, North Carolina Public uncw.edu
Oklahoma State University (OSU)
Bachelor's
56 Stillwater, Oklahoma Public okstate.edu
Pepperdine University
Bachelor's
51 Malibu, California Private pepperdine.edu
The University of Tampa (UTampa)
Master's
40 Tampa, Florida Private ut.edu
Duquesne University
Bachelor's
36 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Private duq.edu
Suffolk University
Bachelor's
26 Boston, Massachusetts Private suffolk.edu
Temple University
Bachelor's
24 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Public temple.edu
Western Michigan University (WMU)
Bachelor's
Other Award
20 Kalamazoo, Michigan Public wmich.edu
Bellevue University
Master's
20 Bellevue, Nebraska Private bellevue.edu
Dalton State College (DSC)
Bachelor's
18 Dalton, Georgia Public daltonstate.edu
St. John's University (SJU)
Bachelor's
18 Queens, New York Private stjohns.edu
Liberty University
Master's
17 Lynchburg, Virginia Private liberty.edu
Quinnipiac University (QU)
Bachelor's
14 Hamden, Connecticut Private qu.edu
Morehead State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
13 Morehead, Kentucky Public moreheadstate.edu
Fairfield University
Bachelor's
10 Fairfield, Connecticut Private fairfield.edu
University of Central Missouri (UCM)
Other Award
9 Warrensburg, Missouri Public ucmo.edu
Muskingum University
Bachelor's
9 New Concord, Ohio Private muskingum.edu
Marymount Manhattan College (MMC)
Bachelor's
8 New York, New York Private mmm.edu
Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU)
Master's
7 Orlando, Florida Private agmu.edu
Thomas College
Bachelor's
6 Waterville, Maine Private thomas.edu
University of Toledo (UToledo)
Other Award
6 Toledo, Ohio Public utoledo.edu
Abilene Christian University (ACU)
Bachelor's
6 Abilene, Texas Private acu.edu
Tulane University of Louisiana
Bachelor's
5 New Orleans, Louisiana Private tulane.edu
Boston University (BU)
Other Award
5 Boston, Massachusetts Private bu.edu
Campbell University
Bachelor's
5 Buies Creek, North Carolina Private campbell.edu
Robert Morris University (RMU)
Bachelor's
5 Moon Township, Pennsylvania Private rmu.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Bachelor's
5 University Park, Pennsylvania Public worldcampus.psu.edu
La Sierra University
Bachelor's
4 Riverside, California Private lasierra.edu
Utica University
Bachelor's
4 Utica, New York Private utica.edu
Virginia State University (VSU)
Master's
4 Petersburg, Virginia Public vsu.edu
West Virginia University (WVU)
Bachelor's
4 Morgantown, West Virginia Public wvu.edu
Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver)
Bachelor's
Other Award
3 Denver, Colorado Public msudenver.edu
Monmouth University
Postbac Cert.
3 West Long Branch, New Jersey Private monmouth.edu
Union University
Bachelor's
3 Jackson, Tennessee Private uu.edu
Rowan University
Postbac Cert.
2 Glassboro, New Jersey Public rowan.edu
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU)
Bachelor's
2 San Antonio, Texas Private ollusa.edu
University of Evansville (UE)
Bachelor's
1 Evansville, Indiana Private evansville.edu
University of Kentucky (UK)
Postbac Cert.
1 Lexington, Kentucky Public uky.edu
Missouri Western State University (MWSU)
Bachelor's
1 Saint Joseph, Missouri Public missouriwestern.edu
Southern Adventist University
Bachelor's
1 Collegedale, Tennessee Private southern.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Public Relations and Advertising programs

Which universities have the largest Public Relations and Advertising programs?

Currently 46 accredited institutions offer Public Relations and Advertising degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus (319 graduates), Utah Valley University (UVU) (115 graduates), and Arkansas State University (A-State) (95 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Public Relations and Advertising growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,123 in 2010 to a peak of 1,807 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,296 in 2023-24. This represents a 15% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

Related Communication Programs

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