Most Selective Highest Earnings Best Value Free Tuition UK Universities

Best Schools for Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication graduates earn a median of $36,865 within two years of graduation, ranking #133 out of 292 tracked majors — 4% above the median across all fields. There are 180 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 14,675 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: George Washington University graduates earn $52,107 while Universidad del Sagrado Corazon graduates earn $16,663 — a $35,444 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication graduates see an average 2% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

180
Schools
$36,865
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#133
of 292 Majors
14,675
Graduates

Public vs Private: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

Public (81 schools)
$36,343
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (92 schools)
$36,952
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $609 more in early earnings on average for Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication by State

New York
16 schools
$38,156
Ohio
15 schools
$37,708
California
11 schools
$41,267
Michigan
11 schools
$37,249
Texas
10 schools
$38,510
Florida
10 schools
$35,769
Missouri
10 schools
$34,645
Illinois
9 schools
$37,835

Top Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
G

George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr: $47,727
Grads: 42
Acceptance: 43.5%
#2
S

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private

$49,344
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,606
Grads: 44
Acceptance: 61.2%
#3
A

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, CA ·

$48,823
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#4
S

School of Visual Arts

New York, NY · For-Profit

$48,823
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 91.3%
#5
A

American University

Washington, DC · Private

$48,432
2yr Earnings
1yr: $45,098
Grads: 101
Acceptance: 47.4%
#6
A

Assumption University

Worcester, MA · Private

$47,846
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,406
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 86.5%
#7
N

National University

San Diego, CA · Private

$47,260
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#8
U

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$47,260
2yr Earnings
1yr: $45,954
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 50.8%
#9
T

Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX · Private

$46,924
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,394
Grads: 70
Acceptance: 42.6%
#10
G

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA · Private

$46,620
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,575
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 76.0%
#11
P

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private

$46,156
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,780
Grads: 129
Acceptance: 49.9%
#12
C

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$45,767
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,478
Grads: 77
Acceptance: 55.6%
#13
N

North Central College

Naperville, IL · Private

$45,584
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,154
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 58.3%
#14
M

Miami University-Oxford

Oxford, OH · Public

$45,249
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,717
Grads: 186
Acceptance: 82.1%
#15
S

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private

$44,934
2yr Earnings
1yr: $47,611
Grads: 221
Acceptance: 41.7%
#16
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$44,711
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,759
Grads: 83
Acceptance: 10.0%
#17
B

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

$44,276
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,037
Grads: 74
Acceptance: 69.2%
#18
O

Otterbein University

Westerville, OH · Private

$44,170
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,792
Grads: 29
Acceptance: 83.3%
#19
C

Carthage College

Kenosha, WI · Private

$43,798
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,342
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 84.2%
#20
T

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$43,680
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,918
Grads: 402
Acceptance: 29.1%
#21
U

University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL · Private

$43,575
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,082
Grads: 89
Acceptance: 18.5%
#22
U

University of Georgia

Athens, GA · Public

$43,404
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,201
Grads: 227
Acceptance: 37.2%
#23
U

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

$43,114
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,675
Grads: 212
Acceptance: 43.7%
#24
E

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, IL · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 75.7%
#25
M

Manhattan University

Riverdale, NY · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 78.5%
#26
F

Franklin University

Columbus, OH ·

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,084
Grads: 42
Acceptance: N/A
#27
U

University of Scranton

Scranton, PA · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,426
Grads: 46
Acceptance: 84.4%
#28
F

Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY · Public

$42,458
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,868
Grads: 369
Acceptance: 57.6%
#29
Q

Quinnipiac University

Hamden, CT · Private

$42,166
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,342
Grads: 50
Acceptance: 77.0%
#30
W

Winona State University

Winona, MN · Public

$41,937
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,050
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 68.5%
#31
D

Drake University

Des Moines, IA · Private

$41,870
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,274
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 64.1%
#32
M

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$41,833
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,973
Grads: 551
Acceptance: 83.9%
#33
W

Weber State University

Ogden, UT ·

$41,565
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#34
S

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$41,379
2yr Earnings
1yr: $49,739
Grads: 58
Acceptance: 80.2%
#35
U

University of Portland

Portland, OR · Private

$41,205
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,196
Grads: 33
Acceptance: 95.4%
#36
W

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · Public

$41,193
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,595
Grads: 73
Acceptance: 82.0%
#37
P

Pace University

New York, NY · Private

$41,058
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,914
Grads: 119
Acceptance: 77.1%
#38
I

Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY · Private

$40,956
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,148
Grads: 192
Acceptance: 69.9%
#39
H

Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY · Private

$40,747
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,870
Grads: 86
Acceptance: 70.6%
#40
F

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL · Public

$40,635
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,544
Grads: 111
Acceptance: 25.4%
#41
U

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public

$40,608
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,721
Grads: 123
Acceptance: 77.1%
#42
U

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public

$40,532
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,532
Grads: 246
Acceptance: 77.1%
#43
U

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public

$40,453
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,176
Grads: 42
Acceptance: 94.4%
#44
U

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$40,089
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,235
Grads: 374
Acceptance: 24.0%
#45
U

University of Florida-Online

Gainesville, FL · Public

$40,089
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,235
Grads: 374
Acceptance: 64.4%
#46
C

Capital University

Columbus, OH · Private

$40,068
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,006
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 73.2%
#47
P

Point Park University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

$40,017
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,010
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 97.9%
#48
M

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI · Private

$39,994
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,449
Grads: 128
Acceptance: 87.4%
#49
U

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public

$39,937
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,111
Grads: 236
Acceptance: 61.5%
#50
U

University of Oregon

Eugene, OR · Public

$39,789
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,861
Grads: 325
Acceptance: 85.1%

Showing top 50 of 180 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Plant Sciences $37,350 Chemistry $37,316 Architecture and Related Services, Other $37,279 Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services $37,022 Hospitality Administration/Management $36,903 Security Science and Technology $36,706

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication?
George Washington University ranks #1 for Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication with median graduate earnings of $52,107 within two years. There are 180 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication graduates earn?
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication graduates earn an average of $36,865 within two years of graduation. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $16,663 to $52,107 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication program?
The average acceptance rate across Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication programs is 74.0%. The most selective program is at University of Southern California with a 10.0% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication?
Private Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication programs average $36,952 in early earnings vs $36,343 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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