Public Relations Schools and Programs in The United States

Public Relations Studies in The United States

Public relations (PR) is the management of communication between an organisation and its publics: the media, customers, employees, investors and the community. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), public relations specialists create and maintain a positive public image for the clients they represent. In the United States the subject is usually taught inside a school or college of communication, journalism or mass communication. SpainExchange lists 45 colleges and universities in the United States that teach public relations.

How the degree is organised

A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study, and each institution sets the number of credits needed to graduate.

Public relations appears under several names, either as a major (the student's main field) or as part of a broader degree. Some universities have a separate major: Boston University's College of Communication offers a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and states that it was the first in the nation to offer a major in the subject. The University of Florida has a Department of Public Relations inside its College of Journalism and Communications, with more than 30 required and elective classes. Elsewhere, public relations is a concentration within a broader degree: at the University of North Texas it is one of five concentrations of the Bachelor of Arts offered by its journalism school, at Butler University it is taught within the Strategic Communication degree, and at Towson University within the Department of Mass Communication.

Programmes combine coursework with practice. Boston University students work for real clients in PRLab, a student-run agency founded in 1978. At Butler University, students graduate with at least one internship for academic credit. Many departments also host a chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which puts students in contact with professionals.

Master's degrees

A master's degree usually takes about two years, although professional master's programmes in this field can be shorter. Boston University's Master of Science in Public Relations has 48 credits in 12 courses over three semesters and does not require the GRE. The Master of Science in Public Relations and Corporate Communication at the New York University School of Professional Studies has 42 credits and a minimum duration of 21 months; the school lists tuition of $2,896 per credit for entry in autumn 2026 or spring 2027. The University of Florida offers a combination degree in which undergraduates take graduate-level courses and earn both the bachelor's degree and a Master of Arts in Mass Communication.

Accreditation and professional credentials

The recognition of U.S. credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to the accreditation of the institution. In addition, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) accredits professional programmes in journalism and mass communications; its website lists the accredited programmes.

The profession's own credential is the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), which practitioners obtain through an application, a panel presentation and an examination; the application fee is $385 or $410 for members of participating organisations and $745 for non-members. BLS notes that certification is not typically required to enter the occupation but is preferred by some employers.

Admission, language and costs

Teaching is in English, and U.S. universities require an English proficiency test before admission. EducationUSA, the U.S. Department of State's advising network, recommends starting the search 12 to 18 months before the academic year in which the student plans to enrol. For a full degree, international students need a student visa: once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the school's international student office issues the Form I-20 used in the visa application.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at 4-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions and $40,700 at private nonprofit institutions. The public figure is the in-state rate, so check what each university charges students from outside the state.

Where to study public relations

Boston, with Boston University and Suffolk University, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with Mount Mercy University and Kirkwood Community College, are the only cities with two schools in this directory. The list includes large public universities such as the University of Florida, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Oregon, Florida State University and Texas Tech University, and private universities such as Butler University, Hofstra University, the University of Miami and the University of Dayton.

Careers

According to BLS, public relations specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in public relations or another communications field, social science or business, and internships are helpful in getting a first job. They held about 314,500 jobs in 2025: 14% in educational services, 12% in advertising, public relations and related services and 11% in government. BLS projects employment to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than average, but with about 23,000 openings a year.

Frequently asked questions

Which degree do I need to work in public relations?

A bachelor's degree is the typical requirement, according to BLS. It can be in public relations or in another communications field, social science or business.

How long does a master's degree in public relations take?

It depends on the programme. Boston University's MS in Public Relations takes three semesters; New York University's MS in Public Relations and Corporate Communication has a minimum duration of 21 months.

What is PRSSA?

The Public Relations Student Society of America is a student organisation with chapters at universities such as Boston University, Butler University and Towson University. Members attend networking events and take part in competitions.