The PRNEWS 2022 Education A-List features many of the top U.S. institutions training future PR and marketing professionals.
Similar to the 2021 list, this year's edition includes public and private institutions offering Certificates, Bachelors, Masters and Doctorates.
To compile the list, members of our editorial staff examined factors such as curricula, diversity, faculty composition, academic awards and capstone courses. Moreover, we considered on- and off-campus offerings, such as internships. In addition, editors considered how the schools' curricula reflected the changing nature of communication. For example, several institutions are offering programs in science, healthcare and sustainability communication.
Schools are listed alphabetically.
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time/Online Only
Specializations: Communication Studies/Interpersonal Communication, Crisis Management, Global and International Communication, Health Communication, Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media, Organizational, Corporate Communication, Political Communication, Public Relations, Marketing Communications, Strategic Communication, Social Change and Advocacy Communication
Admissions Contact: Stephanie Rucker, [email protected]
More Info: https://www.american.edu/soc/communication
BALL STATE UNIVERSITY
Location: Muncie, IN
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters, Graduate Certificate, Licensure
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time, Online
Specializations: Emerging Media Design and Development, Journalism (BA or BS), Teaching Journalism, Strategic Communication: Advertising Major (BA or BS), Strategic Communication: Public Relations (BA or BS)
Admissions Contact: [email protected]
More Info: 765-285-8200, [email protected] or [email protected]
BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION
Location: Boston, MA
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time
Specializations: Communication Studies/Interpersonal Communication, Crisis Management, Health Communication, Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media, Organizational/Corporate Communication, Political Communication, Public Relations, Marketing Communications, Strategic Communication, Non-Profit Communication, Public Relations Ethics, Media Relations, Business Fundamentals for PR
Admissions Contact: Bill Taylor, [email protected]
More Info: https://www.bu.edu/com
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
Location: Provo, UT
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time
Specializations: Journalism, Mass Communications, Public Relations, Mass Communications (Masters)
Admissions Contact: Debbie Jackson, [email protected] (graduate program)
More Info: [email protected], [email protected]
CAL STATE FULLERTON COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Location: Fullerton, CA
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, [email protected]
Specializations: Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising, Entertainment and Tourism Communications and Photocommunications
Admissions Contact: Help Desk (657) 278- 3100
More Info: [email protected], communications.fullerton.edu/comm
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Location: Chicago, IL
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Specializations: Communication and Media, Communication Studies, Communication and Technology, Journalism, Media and Cinema Studies, Organizational Communication, Public Relations and Advertising, Sports Communication, Communication and Media (graduate)
Admissions Contact: Wynne Strugatch, [email protected]
More Info: communication@depaul.edu
ELON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS
Location: Elon, NC
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time
Specializations: Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media; Strategic Communication; Media Analytics; Sports Management; Communication Design; Cinema & Television Arts; Interactive Media
Admissions Contact: [email protected]
More Info: https://www.elon.edu/u/academics/communications/
FULL SAIL UNIVERSITY
Location: Winter Park, FL
Type of Degree Offered: Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Online Only
Specializations: Brand Safety/Diversity; Communication Studies/Interpersonal Communication; Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media; Strategic Communication; Strategic Writing; Technical Communication; Writing for Interactive Media; Research and Investigation Skills Development; Digital News Production; New Media Publishing and Distribution; New Media and Communications; Multimedia Development and Editing; Multimedia Reporting
Admissions Contact: Tom Lacroix, [email protected]
More Info: https://www.fullsail.edu/degrees/new-media-journalism-master
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of Degree Offered: Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time/Primarily Online/Online-only
Specializations: Brand Safety/Diversity; Communication Studies/Interpersonal Communication; Crisis Management; Global and International Communication; Health Communication; Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media; Political Communication; Public Relations, Marketing Communications; Strategic Communication; Strategic Writing
Admissions Contact: Tom Pattiz, [email protected]
More Info: https://scs.georgetown.edu/programs/70/master-of-professional-studies-in-public-relations-and-corporate-communications/
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF POLITICAL MANAGEMENT (GSPM) at THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (GWU)
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Masters|
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time/Primarily Online/Online-only
Specializations: Crisis Management; Global and International Communication; Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media; Political Communication; Public Relations, Marketing Communications; Strategic Communication; Public Affairs
Admissions Contact: Ryan Arey, [email protected]
More Info: https://gspm.gwu.edu/
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Location: Allendale, MI
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time
Specializations: Public Relations, Marketing Communications
Admissions Contact: Jodi Chycinski, [email protected]
More Info: https://www.gvsu.edu/soc/advertising-public-relations-major-47.htm
HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate
Specializations: Communication, Culture and Media Studies; Media, Journalism and Film; Strategic, Legal and Management Communication
Admissions Contact: [email protected]
More Info: https://communications.howard.edu/
IONA COLLEGE
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters, Certificate
Course Options: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Specializations: Advertising, Digital Media & Production, Journalism, Public Relations, Clinical Communication (Certificate), Non-Profit Communication (Certificate), Media & Strategic Communication, Media & Strategic Communication and Public Relations, Sports Communication
Admissions Contact: [email protected]
More Info: (800) 231-IONA
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION
Location: Chicago, IL
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Specializations: Advertising and Public Relations, Advertising and Public Relations/Global Strategic Communication, Advertising Creative, Advocacy and Social Change, Communication Studies, Film and Digital Media, Multimedia Journalism; Digital Media and Storytelling (Masters), Global Strategic Communication (Masters)
Admissions Contact: 800.262.2373 or [email protected]
More info: Herb Ritchell [email protected]
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS
Location: New Orleans, LA
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors
Course Options: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Specializations: Journalism, Strategic Communication, Visual Communication
Admissions Contact: [email protected]
More Info: [email protected]
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION ARTS & SCIENCES
Location: East Lansing, MI
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters, Doctoral
Course Options: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Specializations: Advertising Management, Broadcast Journalism, Communication Leadership and Strategy, Digital Storytelling, Health and Risk Communication, Journalism, Media and Information, Strategic Communication
Admissions Contact: [email protected]
More Info: https://comartsci.msu.edu/ or 517-355-1794
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GLOBAL JOURNALISM & COMMUNICATION
Location: Baltimore, MD
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors
Course Options: Full-time
Specializations: Public Relations, Marketing Communications; Strategic Communication
Admissions Contact: Keisha Campbell, [email protected]
More Info: https://www.morgan.edu/sgjc
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time
Specializations: Communication, Communication Studies, Creative Media and Film, Journalism, Photography, Strategic Communication, Science Communication (Masters), Visual Communication (graphic design)
Admissions Contact: [email protected], [email protected]
More Info: [email protected]
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Location: New York, NY
Type of Degree Offered: Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time
Specializations: Crisis Management; Global and International Communication; Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media; Organizational, Corporate Communication; Political Communication; Public Relations, Marketing Communications
Admissions Contact: Cynthia Perez, [email protected]
More Info: https://www.sps.nyu.edu/homepage/academics/masters-degrees/ms-in-public-relations-and-corporate-communication.html
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Location: Boston, MA
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time/Online Only
Specializations: Crisis Management; Organizational, Corporate Communications; Public Relations, Marketing Communications; Strategic Communication
Admissions Contact: Mallory Leindecker, [email protected]
More Info: https://cps.northeastern.edu/program/master-of-science-in-corporate-and-organizational-communication-online/
PENN STATE UNIVERSITY DONALD P. BELLISARIO COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Location: State College, PA
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate
Course Options: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Specializations: Advertising, Public Relations, Media Studies (Masters), Mass Communications (Doctorate)
Admissions Contact: [email protected]
More Info: bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/bellisario-communications/
PURDUE UNIVERSITY BRIAN LAMB SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate
Course Options: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Specializations: Business Communications, Communicating Science and Technology, General Communication, Health Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Media and Mass Communication, Political and Civic Communication, Public Relations and Strategic Communication; Health Communication, Interpersonal Communication, Organizational Communication, Media Technology & Society, Public Relations
Admissions Contact: [email protected] (undergraduate), [email protected] (graduate)
More Info: [email protected]
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY
Location: Hamden, CT
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time/Online Only
Specializations: Crisis Management; Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media; Public Relations, Marketing Communications; Strategic Communication
Admissions Contact: Terry Bloom, [email protected]
More Info: https://www.qu.edu/
SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY
Location: Chicago, IL
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors
Course Options: Full-time/Primarily Online
Specializations: Communication Studies/Interpersonal Communication; Health Communication; Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media; Political Communication; Public Relations, Marketing Communications; Strategic Communication
Admissions Contact: Brian Hotzfield, [email protected]
More Info: https://www.sxu.edu/academics/programs/communication/index.aspx
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM & MEDIA STUDIES
Location: San Diego, CA
Type of Degree Offered: Certificates, Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Specializations: Communications, Health Communications
Admissions Contact: : [email protected] (undergraduate), [email protected] (graduate)
More Info: 619-594-8512
SETON HALL UNIVERSITY
Location: South Orange, NJ
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time/Primarily Online/Online Only
Specializations: Public Relations, Journalism, Advertising, Media Studies, Mass Communication (MA)
Admissions Contact: Amanda Carcione, [email protected]
More Info: 973 275-4814.
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY NEWHOUSE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
Location: Syracuse, NY
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time/Primarily Online
Specializations: Crisis Management; Global and International Communication; Investor Relations/Financial Communication/Legal Communication; Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media; Organizational, Corporate Communication; Political Communication; Public Relations, Marketing Communications; Strategic Communication; Strategic Writing; Technical Communication
Admissions Contact: Julie Walas, [email protected]
More Info: https://newhouse.syr.edu/academics/public-relations/bachelors/
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
Location: Philadelphia
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Bachelors
Course Options: Full-time
Specializations: Communication Studies/Interpersonal Communication; Crisis Management; Global and International Communication; Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media; Public Relations, Marketing Communications; Strategic Communication; Strategic Writing
Admissions Contact: Van Blunk, [email protected]
More Info: https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/public-relations-major-co-pr-ba
USC ANNENBERG SCHOOL FOR COMMUNICATION AND JOURNALISM
Location: Los Angeles
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time
Specializations: Communication Studies/Interpersonal Communication, Global and International Communication, Health Communication, Informatics/Information Science, Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media, Organizational/Corporate Communication, Political Communication, Public Relations, Marketing Communication, Computational Public Relations, Digital, Interactive and Converged Communication, Sports and Entertainment, Civic Engagement, Lifestyle Public Relations, Media & Entertainment Management, Health & Social Change Communication, Media, Culture and Community, Information, Political Economy and Entertainment, Political Economy of Global Communication, New Media and Technology
Admissions Contact: Allyson Hill, [email protected]
More Info: https://annenberg.usc.edu/
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
Location: Tuscaloosa, AL|
Type of Degree Offered: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Course Options: Bachelors, Masters
Specializations: Advertising, Public Relations
Admissions Contact: 1-800-933-2262
More Info: apr.ua.edu/
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI
Location: Warrensburg, MO
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-Time/Primarily Online/Online Only
Specializations: Public Relations, Marketing Communications; Strategic Communication; Strategic Writing; PR and Strategic Messaging; MBA Strategic Communication; MBA and Executive Comms; Media Training
Admissions Contact: Tricia Hansen-Horn, [email protected]
More Info: ucmo.edu/prsc
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATIONS (Dept. of PR)
Location: Gainesville, FL
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time/Primarily Online/Online Only
Specializations: Brand Safety/Diversity; Crisis Management; Global and International Communication; Health Communication; Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Medial; Organizational, Corporate Communication; Political Communication; Public Relations, Marketing Communications; Strategic Communication; Strategic Writing
Admissions Contact: Judy Hunter, [email protected]
More Info: https://www.jou.ufl.edu/current-students/current-undergraduate/current-academics/public-relations/
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA GRADY COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION
Location: Athens, GA
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate
Course Options: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Specializations: Advertising, Journalism, Public Relations, Entertainment and Media Studies, Health and Medical Journalism (Masters), Emerging Media (Masters), Narrative Media Writing (Masters), Mass Communication (Doctorate)
Admission Contact: Brittney Minor, [email protected], 706-542-2526
More Info: [email protected] (706) 542-1704
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
Location: College Park, MD
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters
Specializations: Communication Science & Social Cognition, Public Relations & Strategic Communication, Rhetoric & Political Culture
Admissions Contact: Xiaoli Nan, [email protected]
More Info: http://www.comm.umd.edu/
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
Location: Lincoln, NE
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate
Course Options: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Specializations: Advertising & Public Relations, Broadcasting, Journalism, Sports Media & Communication
Admissions Contact: [email protected] and [email protected]
More Info: 402-472-4030
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
Location: Eugene and Portland, OR
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate
Course Options: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Specializations: Advertising, Journalism, Media Studies, Public Relations, Advertising and Brand Responsibility (Masters), Multimedia Journalism (Masters), Strategic Communications (Masters)
Admissions Contact: [email protected]
More Info: https://journalism.uoregon.edu/
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
Location: San Francisco
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time
Specializations: Communication Studies/Interpersonal Communication; Crisis Management; Global and International Communication; Health Communication; Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media; Organizational, Corporate Communication; Strategic Communication; Strategic Writing; Technical Communication
Admissions Contact: Donna Uchida, [email protected]
More Info: https://www.usfca.edu/arts-sciences/graduate-programs/professional-communication
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN MOODY COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION
Location: Austin, TX
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time/Online
Specializations: Communications Studies, Interpersonal, Org Comm and Technology, Rhetoric, Language & Political Communication, Public Relations
Admissions Contact: [email protected]
More Info: moody.utexas.edu/
WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
Location: Macomb, IL
Type of Degree Offered: Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time/Online Only
Specializations: Communication Studies/Interpersonal Communication; Crisis Management; Health Communication; Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media; Organizational, Corporate Communication; Strategic Communication
Admissions Contact: Douglas Freed; [email protected]
More Info: http://wiu.edu/comm
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
Location: Morgantown, WV
Type of Degree Offered: Certificate, Bachelors, Masters
Course Options: Full-time/Part-time/Online only
Specializations: Health Communication; Media/Digital/Mass Communication, Journalism, Social Media; Public Relations, Marketing Communications
Admissions Contact: Dan Sadler, [email protected]
More Info: https://marketingcommunications.wvu.edu/