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

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 17.2M citations received by 509K academic papers made by 837 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: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

2. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Communications and Public Relations

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

3. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Communications and Public Relations

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Communications and Public Relations

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

5. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Communications and Public Relations

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

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: $25,078

7. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Communications and Public Relations

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

8. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Communications and Public Relations

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Communications and Public Relations

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

10. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Communications and Public Relations

#11 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

11. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Communications and Public Relations

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

12. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Communications and Public Relations

#14 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

13. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Communications and Public Relations

#16 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Communications and Public Relations

#17 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

15. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Communications and Public Relations

#18 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

16. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Communications and Public Relations

#19 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

17. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Communications and Public Relations

#20 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

18. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Communications and Public Relations

#21 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

19. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Communications and Public Relations

#22 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

20. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Communications and Public Relations

#23 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

21. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Communications and Public Relations

#24 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

22. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Communications and Public Relations

#25 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

23. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Communications and Public Relations

#26 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

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: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

25. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Communications and Public Relations

#29 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

26. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Communications and Public Relations

#31 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

27. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Communications and Public Relations

#32 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

28. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Communications and Public Relations

#33 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

29. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Communications and Public Relations

#34 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

30. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Communications and Public Relations

#35 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

31. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Communications and Public Relations

#36 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

32. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Communications and Public Relations

#37 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

33. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Communications and Public Relations

#38 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

34. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Communications and Public Relations

#39 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

35. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Communications and Public Relations

#40 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

36. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Communications and Public Relations

#41 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

37. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Communications and Public Relations

#42 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

38. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Communications and Public Relations

#43 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

39. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Communications and Public Relations

#45 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

40. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Communications and Public Relations

#46 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

41. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Communications and Public Relations

#48 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

42. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Communications and Public Relations

#49 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

43. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Communications and Public Relations

#51 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

44. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Communications and Public Relations

#53 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

45. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Communications and Public Relations

#54 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

46. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Communications and Public Relations

#55 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

47. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Communications and Public Relations

#56 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

48. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Communications and Public Relations

#57 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

49. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Communications and Public Relations

#58 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

50. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Communications and Public Relations

#59 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

51. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Communications and Public Relations

#61 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

52. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Communications and Public Relations

#62 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

53. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Communications and Public Relations

#63 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

54. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Communications and Public Relations

#64 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

55. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Communications and Public Relations

#65 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

56. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Communications and Public Relations

#66 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

57. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Communications and Public Relations

#67 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

58. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Communications and Public Relations

#68 in North America

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

59. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Communications and Public Relations

#69 in North America

#127 in the World

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

60. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Communications and Public Relations

#70 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

61. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Communications and Public Relations

#71 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

62. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Communications and Public Relations

#72 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

63. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Communications and Public Relations

#73 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

64. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Communications and Public Relations

#74 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

65. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Communications and Public Relations

#76 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

66. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Communications and Public Relations

#77 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

67. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Communications and Public Relations

#78 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

68. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Communications and Public Relations

#79 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

69. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Communications and Public Relations

#80 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

70. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Communications and Public Relations

#81 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $12,053
Enrollment: 41,137

71. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Communications and Public Relations

#82 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

72. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Communications and Public Relations

#83 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

73. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Communications and Public Relations

#84 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

74. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Communications and Public Relations

#85 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

75. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Communications and Public Relations

#86 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

76. Binghamton University

New York State | Vestal

For Communications and Public Relations

#87 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 79%

77. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Communications and Public Relations

#88 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

78. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Communications and Public Relations

#89 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

79. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Communications and Public Relations

#90 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

80. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Communications and Public Relations

#91 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

81. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Communications and Public Relations

#92 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

82. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Communications and Public Relations

#93 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

83. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Communications and Public Relations

#94 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

84. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Communications and Public Relations

#96 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

85. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Communications and Public Relations

#97 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

86. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Communications and Public Relations

#98 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

87. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Communications and Public Relations

#99 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

88. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Communications and Public Relations

#101 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

89. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Communications and Public Relations

#102 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

90. American University in Washington

District of Columbia | Washington

For Communications and Public Relations

#103 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,676

91. Portland State University

Oregon | Portland

For Communications and Public Relations

#104 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,629
Enrollment: 19,951

92. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Communications and Public Relations

#106 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

93. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Communications and Public Relations

#107 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

94. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Communications and Public Relations

#108 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

95. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Communications and Public Relations

#109 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

96. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Communications and Public Relations

#111 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

97. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Communications and Public Relations

#112 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

98. University of North Texas

Texas | Denton

For Communications and Public Relations

#115 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 90%

99. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Communications and Public Relations

#116 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

100. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Communications and Public Relations

#117 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

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.