100 Best colleges for Communications and Public Relations in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Communications and Public Relations. A graph of 16.2M citations received by 499K academic papers made by 833 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Communications and Public Relations

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

2. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Communications and Public Relations

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

3. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Communications and Public Relations

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Communications and Public Relations

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

5. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Communications and Public Relations

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

6. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Communications and Public Relations

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

7. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Communications and Public Relations

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

8. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Communications and Public Relations

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Communications and Public Relations

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

10. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Communications and Public Relations

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

11. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Communications and Public Relations

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

12. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Communications and Public Relations

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

13. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Communications and Public Relations

#15 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Communications and Public Relations

#16 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

15. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Communications and Public Relations

#17 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

16. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Communications and Public Relations

#19 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

17. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Communications and Public Relations

#20 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

18. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Communications and Public Relations

#21 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

19. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Communications and Public Relations

#22 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

20. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Communications and Public Relations

#23 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

21. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Communications and Public Relations

#24 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

22. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Communications and Public Relations

#25 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

23. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Communications and Public Relations

#26 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

24. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Communications and Public Relations

#28 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

25. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Communications and Public Relations

#29 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

26. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Communications and Public Relations

#31 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

27. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Communications and Public Relations

#32 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

28. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Communications and Public Relations

#33 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

29. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Communications and Public Relations

#34 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

30. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Communications and Public Relations

#35 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

31. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Communications and Public Relations

#36 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

32. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Communications and Public Relations

#37 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

33. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Communications and Public Relations

#38 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

34. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Communications and Public Relations

#39 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

35. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Communications and Public Relations

#40 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

36. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Communications and Public Relations

#41 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

37. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Communications and Public Relations

#42 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

38. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Communications and Public Relations

#43 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

39. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Communications and Public Relations

#45 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

40. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Communications and Public Relations

#46 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

41. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Communications and Public Relations

#47 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

42. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Communications and Public Relations

#49 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

43. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Communications and Public Relations

#51 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,590

44. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Communications and Public Relations

#52 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

45. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Communications and Public Relations

#53 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

46. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Communications and Public Relations

#54 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

47. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Communications and Public Relations

#56 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

48. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Communications and Public Relations

#57 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

49. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Communications and Public Relations

#58 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

50. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Communications and Public Relations

#59 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

51. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Communications and Public Relations

#60 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

52. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Communications and Public Relations

#61 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

53. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Communications and Public Relations

#63 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,747
Enrollment: 16,880

54. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Communications and Public Relations

#64 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

55. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Communications and Public Relations

#65 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

56. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Communications and Public Relations

#66 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

57. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Communications and Public Relations

#67 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

58. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Communications and Public Relations

#68 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

59. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Communications and Public Relations

#69 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

60. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Communications and Public Relations

#70 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

61. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Communications and Public Relations

#71 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

62. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Communications and Public Relations

#72 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

63. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Communications and Public Relations

#73 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

64. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Communications and Public Relations

#74 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

65. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Communications and Public Relations

#75 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

66. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Communications and Public Relations

#76 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

67. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Communications and Public Relations

#78 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

68. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Communications and Public Relations

#79 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

69. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Communications and Public Relations

#80 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $5,459
Enrollment: 39,241

70. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Communications and Public Relations

#81 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

71. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Communications and Public Relations

#82 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

72. Binghamton University

New York State | Vestal

For Communications and Public Relations

#83 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 78%

73. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Communications and Public Relations

#84 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

74. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Communications and Public Relations

#85 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

75. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Communications and Public Relations

#86 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

76. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Communications and Public Relations

#87 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

77. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Communications and Public Relations

#88 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

78. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Communications and Public Relations

#89 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

79. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Communications and Public Relations

#90 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

80. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Communications and Public Relations

#91 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

81. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Communications and Public Relations

#92 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

82. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Communications and Public Relations

#93 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

83. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Communications and Public Relations

#94 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

84. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Communications and Public Relations

#95 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

85. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Communications and Public Relations

#97 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

86. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Communications and Public Relations

#98 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

87. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Communications and Public Relations

#99 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

88. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Communications and Public Relations

#100 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

89. Portland State University

Oregon | Portland

For Communications and Public Relations

#101 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $8,827
Enrollment: 20,519

90. American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Communications and Public Relations

#103 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $40,189

91. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Communications and Public Relations

#104 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

92. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Communications and Public Relations

#105 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

93. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Communications and Public Relations

#106 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

94. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Communications and Public Relations

#107 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

95. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Communications and Public Relations

#109 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

96. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Communications and Public Relations

#111 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

97. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Communications and Public Relations

#112 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

98. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Communications and Public Relations

#113 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

99. University of North Texas

Texas | Denton

For Communications and Public Relations

#116 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 91%

100. DePaul University

Illinois | Chicago

For Communications and Public Relations

#117 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $32,129

The best cities to study Communications and Public Relations in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Ann Arbor, University Park, Seattle, and Cambridge.