Public Relations, sometimes called Strategic Communications, is a strong major for students interested in communications, marketing, brand representation and building, crisis management, or anything else related to the building, maintaining, and marketing of a brand. It is also, however, a fairly rare major at the undergraduate level. Most colleges only offer Public Relations, or a differently-named equivalent, at the graduate level. If you don’t want to wait, you’ll have to do some digging.
Lucky for you, we’ve already done it. Below we’ve compiled our ten favorite Public Relations programs in the United States for undergraduate students. A major at any of these schools can be used to jumpstart a career in nearly any sector, from a media company to a professional sports team, and prepares students for roles as account executives, agents, public relations associates, and analysts.
If you’re interested in studying Public Relations, but don’t know what school is right for you, send us an email. We help students chart a course to a successful future.
Washington University in St. Louis — St. Louis, Missouri
Students in the Business Administration BS at WashU can select a Marketing Major, which is their PR equivalent. We love this degree path because it is broader than more PR programs, giving students all the skills they need whether they want to work for an existing business or marketing firm, or to create their own. There is also a Communications degree program in the College of Professional and Continuing Education, WashU’s non-traditional college for transferring or adult students, or students who have already begun college courses while in high school.
University of Southern California (USC) — Los Angeles, California
A BA in Public Relations from USC is like a golden ticket among Los Angeles PR firms. LA is the hub of entertainment in the United States, and so is the perfect place for studying PR and accessing internships and job opportunities. Students in the major can choose to minor in a more focused path within the Public Relations degree, including the Cultural Diplomacy Minor, Latinx News Media Minor, Podcasting Minor, and Sports Media Studies Minor.
Boston University — Boston, Massachusetts
Boston University was the first university in the United States to offer a degree in Public Relations way back in 1947, and their program still sets the standard for PR paths across the country. The BS in Public Relations is offered through the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations and is focused on “Building relationships for everyone’s benefit.” In 1974, BU began the first student-run PR firm, PRLab, which still runs today and is staffed by current BU students.
Washington & Lee University — Lexington, Virginia
The major in Strategic Communication is in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at Washington & Lee and offers a diverse selection of specialized courses including “Damage Control in the Digital Age,” “Public Relations Writing,” and “Law and Communications.” The program puts a strong emphasis on internships, supporting students in not only finding and receiving credit for internships but in thriving every step of the way.
University of Florida — Gainesville, Florida
The Public Relations major in the College of Journalism and Communications teaches students to us PR “in support of a civil society and democratic ideals.” Courses like “Diverse Voices” teach students to amplify lesser-heard voices and narratives, and students in “The Agency Immersion” course get credit while working in the PR department of the college. There is also a combined BA and MA in Mass Communications faster and for less than doing them separately.
The University of Texas at Austin — Austin, Texas
The BS in Public Relations in the Moody College of Communication at UT Austin is focused on “strategic thinking, professional writing, ethical practice, and innovative use of new media.” They also offer majors in communications and leadership, advertising, and more in the College of Communication. Students who don’t want to spend their entire college experience in one place can apply for UT in New York and UT in Los Angeles. These programs are internship intensives supported and facilitated by the university.
Clemson University — Clemson, South Carolina
Students in the Communication BA at Clemson learn to use timeless principles of communication to learn how to communicate for today effectively and efficiently. They can select from four areas of emphasis, Media & Technology Studies, Health Communication, Generalist, or the PR equivalent, or Strategic Communication, and graduate prepared for careers in business, government, and the public sector.
University of Georgia — Athens, Georgia
The Department of Advertising & Public Relations in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia offers majors in both Advertising and Public Relations. Students are prepared “to be creative problem solvers, writers, managers, policy and communication decision makers, media planners and analysts” through courses such as “Brand Storytelling” and “Crisis Communication.”
Tulane University — New Orleans, Louisiana
If you pursue a Communication Major in the School of Liberal Arts at Tulane, you’ll study various forms of media and master communicating a message across mediums, cultures, and geographies. There is also a BA in Public Relations available through the Media + Design Program in the School of Professional Advancement, which is designed for the needs of working adults, or students who have already completed some college.
Pepperdine University — Malibu, California
Students in the Public Relations major in the Communication Division of Seaver College, Pepperdine’s liberal arts college, can expect a program that “teaches students to write, plan, and build relationships between organizations and the public.” Over 80% of students at Pepperdine participate in an international program, and there is an equally strong internship program focused on communications, PR, and marketing.
Students with a degree in Public Relations can go into nearly any field before (or without ever) going to graduate school. This makes it a top-choice majors for students who want to get to work quickly and see a return on their degree just as fast.
If you’re wondering what degree will give you the most earning potential the fastest, send us an email. We help students like you find, and get into, their perfect college.