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CIP 09.0999 Communication and Journalism

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

Total graduates

1,135

2025 · 36 schools

International share

4.8%

54 international students

Bachelor's degrees

907

4.9% international

Master's degrees

228

4.4% international

Overview

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication is a specialized area of study that focuses on the strategies and techniques used to manage communication between organizations and their audiences. This field encompasses various aspects of communication, including public relations practices, advertising strategies, and applied communication methods tailored for specific contexts.

Students in this program will learn how to create and maintain a positive public image for organizations, develop effective advertising campaigns, and utilize various media channels to reach target audiences. The curriculum typically covers topics such as media relations, crisis communication, brand management, persuasive communication, and digital marketing. Additionally, students will gain practical skills in writing, public speaking, and multimedia production, which are essential for success in this dynamic field.

The importance of this discipline cannot be overstated, as effective communication is crucial for organizations to thrive in today’s competitive environment. Professionals in this field work in a variety of settings, including corporate communications, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and advertising agencies. Graduates are equipped to pursue careers as public relations specialists, advertising executives, communication strategists, and brand managers, among other roles.

Overall, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication is an interdisciplinary field that merges creativity with strategic thinking, making it an exciting option for students interested in influencing public perception and shaping the narrative around organizations. As media landscapes continue to evolve, the demand for skilled communicators in this area remains strong, offering graduates diverse career opportunities.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2003 to 2025, graduates grew 448% and the international share went from 2.9% to 4.8%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
64.8%
Asian
4.3%
Hispanic
11.5%
Black
7.5%
Other
7.2%
Intl.
4.8%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 36 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#55 The Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania 281 19
#59 Tulane University of Louisiana Louisiana 2 0
#80 Pepperdine University California 77 6
#109 Fairfield University Connecticut 13 0
#109 Temple University Pennsylvania 16 0
#121 Loyola University Chicago Illinois 71 2
#137 St John's University (NY) New York 16 0
#156 Quinnipiac University Connecticut 20 0
#156 Duquesne University Pennsylvania 23 2
#169 DePaul University Illinois 98 4
#169 Butler University Indiana 57 0
#191 Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Oklahoma 70 0
#219 University of North Carolina--Wilmington North Carolina 52 0
#219 Robert Morris University Pennsylvania 12 0
#227 West Virginia University West Virginia 9 0
#276 Western Michigan University Michigan 17 1
#299 Azusa Pacific University California 2 0
#299 Utica University New York 2 0
#308 Abilene Christian University Texas 15 1
#342 Campbell University North Carolina 4 0
#353 Arkansas State University Arkansas 126 11
#365 Liberty University Virginia 13 0
— The University of Tampa Florida 32 7
— Bellevue University Nebraska 19 0
— Dalton State College Georgia 15 0
— Ana G. Mendez University Florida 12 0
— Morehead State University Kentucky 10 0
— Virginia State University Virginia 6 1
— Union University Tennessee 5 0
— Our Lady of the Lake University Texas 5 0
— Marymount Manhattan College New York 3 0
— Muskingum University Ohio 3 0
— La Sierra University California 2 0
— Black Hills State University South Dakota 2 0
— Metropolitan State University of Denver Colorado 1 0
— Thomas College Maine 1 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2003–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.