Public Relations Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Managing public image and communications for organizations and individuals.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$72K
salary
ROI Payback
5 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
3.5%
rate
Public Relations Overview
Managing public image and communications for organizations and individuals.
Category
Communications
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
68%
Enrollment Trend
stable
Online Available
Yes
Underemployment
22%
Lifetime Premium
$420K
Female Graduates
70%
Public Relations Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$16,200
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$16,200
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$403,800
Lifetime earnings premium ($420,000) minus net degree cost ($16,200)
Public Relations Salary Progression
Common Public Relations Careers
PR Specialist
Communications Manager
Media Relations Director
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Public Relations
#1
University of Florida
#2
NYU
#3
USC
#4
Boston University
#5
Syracuse
Related Majors
Public Relations Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Public Relations Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for public relations programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
Compare All College Majors
Analyze ROI, salary potential, and career outcomes for 150+ college majors.