Media relations manager education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a media relations manager. Media relations managers usually study communication, journalism, or business. 82% of media relations managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 11% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,743 real media relations manager resumes to see exactly what media relations manager education sections show.

The most common colleges for media relations managers are the University of Maryland - College Park and the University of Maryland - College Park.

There are also many online media relations manager courses to help get the education required to be a media relations manager.

There are certain media relations manager certifications that you should consider. These media relations manager certifications include Accreditation in Public Relations (PR) and Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish (CMI).

What education do you need to become a media relations manager?

What degree do you need to be a media relations manager?

The most common degree for media relations managers is bachelor's degree, with 82% of media relations managers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 11% and master's degree degree at 4%.

Bachelor's, 82%

Master's, 11%

Associate, 4%

Doctorate, 1%

Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a media relations manager?

You should major in communication to become a media relations manager. 21% of media relations managers major in communication. Other common majors for a media relations manager include journalism and business.

Communication, 21%

Journalism, 19%

Business, 8%

Public Relations, 8%

Other Majors, 44%

Most common colleges for media relations managers

Media relations managers often get their degrees at University of Maryland - College Park, Arizona State University, and Michigan State University. Here are the most common colleges for media relations managers in the US based on their resumes.

Media relations manager common college	Percentages
University of Maryland - College Park	7.73%
Arizona State University	7.30%
Michigan State University	6.87%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	6.87%
Syracuse University	6.01%

Show more common media relations manager colleges

Best majors for media relations managers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Communication	21.2%
2	Journalism	18.9%
3	Business	8.4%
4	Public Relations	8.4%
5	English	7.2%

Show more common media relations manager majors

Best colleges for media relations managers

The best colleges for media relations managers are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Southern California.

A media relations manager with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for media relations managers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become media relations managers.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

3. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

8. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

9. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$15,094

Enrollment

32,974

10. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

20 best online courses for media relations managers

Advertising disclosure

1. Public Relations: Media Crisis Communications

4.6

(2,248)

Public Relations: You Can Shape and Control Your Media Messages at The Worst Possible Times...

2. Communication Skills Masterclass - Your Communication Guide

4.5

(961)

Communication Skill For Business Communication & Effective Communication In Workplace & Relationships...

3. Communication Fundamentals: How To Communicate Better

4.5

(82,838)

Become an Effective Communicator And Learn How to Get Your Message Across By Learning Communication Fundamentals...

4. Winning With Communication - Master Communication Skills

4.4

(539)

Communication Training Course - Develop True Communication Mastery!...

5. Effective Communication in the Workplace

4.6

(9,714)

Business Communication Training...

6. Advanced Product Management: Leadership & Communication

4.5

(2,424)

Accelerate your Product Management career. Master communication, people management, & leadership...

7. Communication Skills for Beginners

4.5

(5,736)

Start Building Your Communication Skills Now...

8. Executive Communication Training

4.5

(272)

Being a great leader without being a great communicator is nearly impossible...

9. Communications for New Managers

4.5

(2,809)

Learn from an Emmy-Award Winner and a #1 Linked In Instructor on developing effective leadership communications skills...

10. Communication Skills PLUS Leadership - 2 in 1 Masterclass

4.5

(4,367)

Learn Communication & Leadership Skills For Inspiration, Success In Life, Work PLUS Interviews, Case Studies, Activities...

11. Effective Communication Skills: Be a Better Communicator!

(404)

NEW UPGRADED COURSE: Learn proven, effective communication skills, how to question, listen actively & overcome problems...

12. Communication Skills every Manager should Master

4.4

(3,456)

Powerful Communication Techniques to better Delegate, Communicate Decisions, Change Resistance, Say No & Admit Mistakes...

13. Communication Skills - 7 Communication Courses In 1

4.6

(748)

Master Communication Skills: Learn Persuasion, Negotiation, Body Language, Emotional Intelligence & More!...

14. Communicate Like a CEO

4.4

(454)

Dramatically improve your leadership communication skills on the way to the c-suite...

15. The Complete Communication Skills Master Class for Life

4.5

(24,987)

Communication Skills for Persuasion, Assertiveness and All Business Communication Needs...

16. Business Communication Skills: Handling Clients & Customers

4.4

(1,161)

Soft Skills Training Social Skills Business Etiquette Business English Customer Service Training...

17. Assertive Communication Skills Masterclass

4.5

(10,770)

Assertive Communication Skills for Business & Social Life. Speak Confidently. Set Boundaries. Difficult conversations...

18. The Art of Communications - Become A Master Communicator

4.5

(8,409)

Communication skills training. Confidence. Public Speaking. Promotion. Body Language. Pay raise. Job interview. Speech...

19. Versatile Communication Skills - The Art of Engagement

4.5

(290)

Powerful, practical, communication skills that drive engagement & build effective professional & personal relationships...

20. Communication Mastery for Managers: How to Talk Like a CEO

4.1

(443)

Learn the secrets used by the world's most powerful communicators to deliver even difficult messages with tact & finesse...

Top 10 most affordable universities for media relations managers

The most affordable schools for media relations managers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and university of florida.

If the best universities for media relations managers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for media relations managers.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

6. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

7. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

8. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Cost of attendance

14,359

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for media relations managers

The hardest universities for media relations managers to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and University of Southern California.

Some great schools for media relations managers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for media relations managers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

2. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

3. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

6. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,520

7. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

8. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,492

9. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

10. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for media relations managers

The easiest schools for media relations managers to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, notre dame de namur university, and university of the incarnate word.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a media relations manager without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for media relations managers.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

6. Rochester University

Rochester Hills, MI • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,002

7. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

8. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

9. Curry College

Milton, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,026

10. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

Average media relations manager salary by education level

According to our data, media relations managers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $99,840 annually. Media relations managers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $88,575.

Media relations manager education level	Media relations manager salary
Master's Degree	$99,840
Bachelor's Degree	$88,575

Media relations manager education FAQs

What is the best college for Media Relations Managers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.

Search for media relations manager jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse executive management jobs