Public Relations Degree in Philadelphia, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Public Relations degree analysis for Philadelphia, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$75K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$108K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Philadelphia
Cost of Living
150
index (100 = avg)
Public Relations in Philadelphia, PA Overview
Philadelphia is one of Pennsylvania's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 116,806. Public tuition averages $18,526/year here — near the national average for public universities. Public Relations enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Media Relations and Crisis Communication. The adjusted starting salary in Philadelphia is approximately $75,000.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$18,526/yr
Private Tuition
$59,845/yr
Room & Board
$19,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,866/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
52%
Public Relations Salary in Philadelphia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Philadelphia's cost of living index of 150 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Public Relations salary: $50,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $92,000 senior level.Philadelphia adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Public Relations ROI Calculator for Philadelphia
Estimate your return on investment for a Public Relations degree using local Philadelphia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $18,526 | Private avg: $59,845
Philadelphia avg aid: $10,866/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$152,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,500
vs HS diploma in Philadelphia
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Philadelphia
$477,340
Lifetime earnings premium ($630,000) minus total education cost ($152,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Public Relations in Philadelphia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Philadelphia for Public Relations
University of Pennsylvania
private
$63,452/yr
$253,808 total
Temple University
public
$18,526/yr
$74,104 total
Drexel University
private
$56,238/yr
$224,952 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Philadelphia
$6,378/yr
Top Employers for Public Relations in Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Public Relations graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Philadelphia Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Public Relations Job Titles
Public Relations in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Pittsburgh, PA
$58K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$57K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$59K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$47K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$63K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$46K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Philadelphia
Public Relations Degree in Philadelphia — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Public Relations ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Philadelphia.