Are you good at maintaining an image? The Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Public Relations may be perfect for you.
The field of Public Relations is even more relevant now than it has been back in the day. One bad Twitter story about your product could harm your image. That’s where you come in.
You have the option to work in a variety of different settings including private companies, government agencies, or even educational institutions. You can even earn this degree online in the convenience of your own home. PR specialists make a healthy median salary of $60,000 per year.
What is a Public Relations degree?
Becoming a professional in PR requires story-telling, sometimes damage control, and strategic planning. Writing should definitely be one of your strong suits. Your primary focus is on communicating with the media and shedding a positive light on your company.
There are several career options in this field including social media manager, marketing coordinator, or media relations specialist. You’re likely to focus on developing social media programs to promote businesses. This degree is for people who are good at handling social media questions and concerns.
How much can you earn with a Public Relations degree?
The salary for this field may surprise you as it is higher than the average bachelor’s salary of $50,556. The median salary for PR specialists as of 2018 was $60,000 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The forecasted growth for this field is 9 percent from 2016 to 2026, higher than the average growth rate of 7 percent. Those working in the federal government earned the most with a median salary of $64,530. Those who are working in the education sector still earn a healthy median salary of $55,790.
What is required for a Public Relations degree?
There are certain requirements you must fulfill in order to get your Bachelor’s in PR. Before getting admitted into the program, you must submit your ACT/SAT scores. You may also need to provide a personal statement and letters of recommendation.
You’ll typically take courses in public speaking, media ethics and law, as well as public relations writing. Down the road, you may want to seek voluntary PR certification and accreditation. This is done through different groups who require several years of experience and examination.
What are the best Public Relations degrees?
OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.
The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.
Oral Roberts University
20-Year ROI$744,103![]()
Quick Facts
- Tuition: $25,800(in state) / $25,800(out of state)
- Capstone Project required for graduation
- 123 credit hours required for graduation
- Offer a variety of different scholarships
School Wide
Program Level
100%OSR ScoreOral Roberts University provides an online BS in Digital Communication Degree that prepares you for growing online brands and creating new digital experiences. At this school, you are able to earn industry certificates as part of your classes. ORU prides themselves on their Christian values.
SUNY College at Oswego
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Quick Facts
- Tuition: $6,670(in state) / $16,320(out of state)
- Can start in any semester
- Designed for those with college credits already
- 45 major credits
School Wide
Program Level
93%OSR ScoreAt Suny Oswego, you’ll be taught by the same expert faculty as on-campus students. This online PR program offers specialized electives to help you develop key skills in the field including crisis management and graphic design. It prepares you for a career in any sector including government or nonprofit.
Webster University
20-Year ROI$835,493![]()
Quick Facts
- Tuition: $26,900(in state) / $26,900(out of state)
- Requires a thesis or internship
- 128 credit hours is required for graduation
- Ranked in top 15% for non-traditional students of universities nationwide
School Wide
Program Level
93%OSR ScoreWebster University’s program provides students an overall view of the communication field and then allows them to take a 12-hour concentration in their desired program. You will take courses such as Cultural Diversity in the Media and Ethics in the Media. Students are required to pass a portfolio review typically in their Junior year.
Point Park University
20-Year ROI$731,857![]()
Quick Facts
- Tuition: $28,860(in state) / $28,860(out of state)
- 122 credits are required for graduation
- May require an interview for admission
Ranked as one of the Most Affordable Online Communications Degrees
School Wide
Program Level
82%OSR ScoreYou’ll get hands-on experience as a capstone is required where you work with an agency to create a campaign. The program was created by professionals who are in the field. You will learn the ins and outs of PR with classes on graphic design and business.
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
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Quick Facts
- Tuition: $13,484(in state) / $13,484(out of state)
- Offers a class on independent studies
- Offers asynchronous learning
- 120 credits are required for graduation
School Wide
Program Level
77%OSR ScoreThis online program provides you with written and oral communication skills that global businesses and organizations are looking for. You’ll be learning from Penn State’s College of the Liberal Arts expert faculty. This school has over 125 years of experience in distance learning.
Franklin University
20-Year ROI$960,502![]()
Quick Facts
- Tuition: $12,216(in state) / $12,216(out of state)
- Capstone requirement
- Credit hours required for graduation are 124
- Learn from real-world practitioners
School Wide
Program Level
77%OSR ScoreFranklin University’s online program has coursework that follows the Public Relations Society of America standards. You’ll get a hands-on approach with this program, as all classes use real-life scenarios that aim to help you solve similar issues in the professional world. The program is transfer-friendly as you can transfer up to 94 credits from another university.
National University
20-Year ROI$1,183,483![]()
Quick Facts
- Tuition: $13,032(in state) / $13,032(out of state)
- Offers 4-week classes
- 180 quarter units of coursework required for graduation
- Marketing project is required
School Wide
Program Level
72%OSR ScoreNU’s online program is designed to provide you with a business degree combined with communication skills that allow you to create multi-platform messages. Military personnel enjoys discounted tuition. You can take classes on your own take as they are asynchronous.
Montana State University-Billings
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Quick Facts
- Tuition: $4,397(in state) / $17,162(out of state)
- Modeled after PRSA standards
- Provides internship opportunities
- 120 credits are required for graduation
School Wide
Program Level
71%OSR ScoreA unique trait about this program is that it prepares students to work in a variety of different work settings including healthcare and nonprofit. This degree is designed to combine communication and media studies with marketing. MSU also accepts transfer credits from all accredited university programs.
California Baptist University
20-Year ROI$839,708![]()
Quick Facts
- Tuition: $30,446(in state) / $30,446(out of state)
- Prepares you to work in a variety of settings
- Will have access to a personal admissions counselor
- 48 major units are required for graduation
School Wide
Program Level
70%OSR ScoreThis program is designed to provide a Christian view on all facets of communication. This program also teaches students how to approach issues in the global context. You’re required to complete a communication senior project.
Mid-America Christian University
20-Year ROI$746,877![]()
Quick Facts
- Tuition: $16,560(in state) / $16,560(out of state)
- 85% of grads are employed within 2 years
- Program is 100% online
- 124 credits are required for graduation
School Wide
Program Level
68%OSR ScoreThe B.S. in Communication, Media and Ethics program is designed to equip you with the tools of online engagement. At this school, you can request a virtual campus visit. The university core requirements are Christian-based and focus on the bible and theology.
