undergraduate
Public relations
Best schools with public relations
What is a public relations major?
This curriculum concentrates on the theories and methods for managing the media image of a business, organization, or individual and the communication process with stakeholders, constituencies, audiences, and the general public. It prepares individuals to function as public relations assistants, technicians, and managers. This includes instruction in public relations theory, related principles of advertising, marketing, and journalism, message/image design, image management, special event management, media relations, community relations, public affairs, and internal communications.
of students said the outlet for creativity was a highlight of this major.
of students found this major to be difficult.
of students said they were motivated to select this major because it fit their passion & interest.
of students and alumni plan on being or are currently employed in an occupation related to this major.
of students said balancing many projects & deadlines was a challenging aspect of the major.
How much do public relations majors make?
median average salary
$60,000/yr
The national average salary for public relations graduates in the United States is $60,000 per year. Those in the top 10 percent make over $145,000 a year, while the bottom 10 percent make under $23,000 a year. While salary ranges can vary by role, industry, and location, public relations graduates typically make between $40,000 and $95,000 per year.
How popular is public relations as a major?
Each year, around 9,140 students obtain a bachelor’s degree and around 30 students obtain an associate degree in public relations. In 2021, 9,303 students received a bachelor's degree and 59 students received an associate degree. This is 2% fewer public relations majors than there were in 2020. Public relations is one of the most popular majors within communications.
Advice from public relations majors
Share your experienceRemember that creativity takes time, but also remember that you are on a time crunch! Write for your audience, not for yourself. It's all about who you know. Do internships if at all possible so that you can meet people and make connections with employeer's in your field.
Hands on experience along with internships are incredibly helpful and required here. However, they are not everything, and personally I believe personal connections are more important. Make friends, talk to staff, and engage yourself in something you enjoy. The great thing about public relations is that its a broad major about communication. So find what you truly enjoy and go for it. And if you figure out you hate this side of it, jump to another. I would hate being a data analysis but love social media. You might be opposite and that's the joy of this major.
Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. Meet new people, take on that extra credit project, join on-campus clubs that are related to public relations (PRSSA is a great club to be involved in); the more open you are to new things and experiences the more successful you will be, not only in college classes but in the real world as well.
Networking is important as well as having the opportunities to apply the skills you learned through internships and more.
Network. Make sure you talk to your professors and get to know them. Get active on LinkedIn and Handshake!
