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Public relations/communications manager education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a public relations/communications manager. Public relations/communications managers usually study communication, journalism, or business. 79% of public relations/communications managers hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 747 real public relations/communications manager resumes to see exactly what public relations/communications manager education sections show.
The most common colleges for public relations/communications managers are the New York University and the New York University.
There are also many online public relations/communications manager courses to help get the education required to be a public relations/communications manager.
There are certain public relations/communications manager certifications that you should consider. These public relations/communications manager certifications include Accreditation in Public Relations (PR) and Professional Certified Marketer (PCM).
What education do you need to become a public relations/communications manager?
What degree do you need to be a public relations/communications manager?
- Bachelor's, 79%
- Master's, 14%
- Associate, 4%
- Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a public relations/communications manager?
- Communication, 24%
- Journalism, 14%
- Business, 9%
- Marketing, 9%
- Other Majors, 44%
Most common colleges for public relations/communications managers
| Public relations/communications manager common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| New York University | 6.42% |
| Michigan State University | 6.42% |
| George Washington University, The | 6.42% |
| University of Oregon | 6.42% |
| University of Florida | 5.50% |
Best majors for public relations/communications managers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Communication | 23.7% |
| 2 | Journalism | 13.8% |
| 3 | Business | 9.0% |
| 4 | Marketing | 9.0% |
| 5 | English | 7.7% |
Best colleges for public relations/communications managers
The best colleges for public relations/communications managers are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Boston University.
A public relations/communications 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 public relations/communications 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 public relations/communications 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. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Enrollment
34,564
5. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,308
Enrollment
6,819
6. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
7. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
8. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,530
Enrollment
4,571
9. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Enrollment
32,072
10. Tulane University
New Orleans, LA • Private
In-state tuition
$54,820
Enrollment
7,920
20 best online courses for public relations/communications managers
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10. The Art of Communications - Become A Master Communicator
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11. Effective Communication in the Workplace
Business Communication Training...
12. Effective Communication Skills: Be a Better Communicator!
NEW UPGRADED COURSE: Learn proven, effective communication skills, how to question, listen actively & overcome problems...
13. Communication Skills Masterclass: Speak Like A Leader
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14. Communications for New Managers
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15. Communication Skills every Manager should Master
Powerful Communication Techniques to better Delegate, Communicate Decisions, Change Resistance, Say No & Admit Mistakes...
16. CSR Development & Communications: Make a Difference Today!
Introduction to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program Development & Communication...
17. Communicate Like a CEO
Dramatically improve your leadership communication skills on the way to the c-suite...
18. The Complete Communication Skills Master Class for Life
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19. Basic Communication Skills
Learn how to be an effective communicator...
20. Assertive Communication Skills Masterclass
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Top 10 most affordable universities for public relations/communications managers
The most affordable schools for public relations/communications managers are University of Florida, brigham young university, and florida state university.
If the best universities for public relations/communications 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 public relations/communications managers.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
3. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
5. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
6. University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,368
Cost of attendance
21,034
7. Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$7,879
Cost of attendance
21,223
8. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
9. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,796
Cost of attendance
24,514
10. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for public relations/communications managers
The hardest universities for public relations/communications managers to get into are Northwestern University, Northeastern University, and Boston University.
Some great schools for public relations/communications 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 public relations/communications 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
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
4. Tulane University
New Orleans, LA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,428
5. Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
51%
SAT average
1,395
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. Villanova University
Villanova, PA • Private
Admissions rate
29%
SAT average
1,407
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
9. Clemson University
Clemson, SC • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,337
10. American University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,320
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for public relations/communications managers
The easiest schools for public relations/communications managers to get into are Barry University, oklahoma wesleyan university, and notre dame college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a public relations/communications 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 public relations/communications managers.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
3. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
4. Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,069
5. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
6. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
7. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
8. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
9. William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
994
10. Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, PA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,080
Average public relations/communications manager salary by education level
| Public relations/communications manager education level | Public relations/communications manager salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $94,493 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $84,524 |
Public relations/communications manager education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025