12 Most Affordable Masters In Public Relations Online | Schools, Courses, Tuition & Salary

12 Most Affordable Masters in Public Relations Online

By adding affordable masters in public relations online to their resumes, professionals increase their likelihood of pursuing upper-level promotions in today’s frantic media industry. Attending masters in public relations online can be ideal for a number of people to deepen corporate communication strategies and build relationships in a flexible and convenient way.

Career and Salary with Masters in Public Relations Online

With Masters in Public Relations Online, you can embark on several career paths. For instance, you might work for a local politician as a press secretary, or lead a team of communications professionals in an organization or even begin your public relations firm.

While many careers in public relations come with competitive salaries and above-average job prospects, a public relations master’s degree online can position you for lucrative leadership roles across various industries.

Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), public relations and fundraising managers earned a median salary of $111,280 in 2017, nearly three times the median salary for all other occupations. Additionally, the BLS estimates that advertising, promotions, and marketing managers earn even more, with a median salary approaching $130,000 per year.

12 Most Affordable Masters in Public Relations Online

Since only a few universities and colleges offer a public relations graduate program, we have also added Communication degrees. These two fields overlap in terms of the courses provided, areas studied, and career outcomes. Therefore, we have combined them into one ranking list for your convenience.

Check out the 12 most affordable masters in public relations online below.

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1. MS in Public Relations 

Lasell College

Newton, Massachusetts

In-State Tuition: $21,600

Out-of-State Tuition: $21,600

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 13:1

The online MS in Communication degree from Lasell College requires students to choose from either a Master of Science in Communication or an MS in Communication with a concentration in public relations.

The PR focus is available online and delivered in eight- or 16-week courses. Students have to complete 36 credits of coursework, including a capstone project, nine credits of concentration-specific courses, six credits of electives, and 21 credits in the core program curriculum.


Program Website

2. MA in Public Relations

California Baptist University

Riverside, California

In-State Tuition: $17,400

Out-of-State Tuition: $17,400

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 17:1

California Baptist University offers masters in public relations online. The Master of Arts in Public Relations features 33 units of study, which can be completed in 12 months. Core requirements include research and evaluation, specialized writing, critical thinking and crisis management, marketing, management, and leadership. The program climaxes in a comprehensive capstone.


Program Website

3. MA in Public Relations

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

 In-State Tuition: $17,160

Out-of-State Tuition: $17,160

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 17:1

The masters in public relations online from Ball State University makes it possible for students to earn their degree solely online or in a blended format of online and on-campus classes. This 33- to 39-credit program is delivered in an asynchronous format. This means that students can interact at their convenience.

Students can earn their degree in five semesters by taking two or three classes per semester. Study areas include business fundamentals and entrepreneurship in public relations, mass communication research methods, public relations theories and applications, social media analytics, and journalism and communication theory.

Concentrations include public relations leadership or media analytics. The program results in a capstone project such as a thesis, applied research, research paper, or creative project.


Program Website

4. MS in Management in Public Relations

University of Maryland University College

Largo, Maryland

In-State Tuition: $16,488

Out-of-State Tuition: $23,724

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 19:1

The online MS in Management in Public Relations from the University of Maryland University College can be done via distance learning.

The MS in Management with a specialization in public relations provides students with a solid grounding in legal and ethical PR issues, PR theory, campaign strategies, and the creative and analytical skills necessary to succeed in the profession.

Students learn about crisis communications, tactical planning and execution, social media monitoring, and public relations strategy development through the curriculum. Students are required to take a strategic management capstone course before finishing the program.

In addition, graduates are prepared for management roles in crisis management, ethics issues, theory, and campaign strategy in the public relations field.


Program Website

5. Master of Arts in Communication

Missouri State University

Springfield, Missouri

In-State Tuition: $9,120

Out-of-State Tuition: $9,120

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 21:1

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Missouri State University renders two options for its Masters in Communication degree: a traditional path and an accelerated path. The traditional program demands 32-credit-hours that can be done in two years of full-time study. For this, students may choose either a thesis or a non-thesis option.

The accelerated program is for undergraduate majors who can take 12 credit hours to apply to both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Courses are conveniently done in the evenings or online.

The program balances research and theory alongside internship and service-learning opportunities, preparing students for various professional settings. As a student, you may choose to specialize in a unique area such as public relations, conflict, or organizational communication.


Program Website

6. Master of Arts in Public Relations

Webster University

Webster Groves, Missouri

In-State Tuition: $28,080

Out-of-State Tuition: $28,080

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 9:1

Webster University’s School of Communications offers a Master of Arts degree in Public Relations. All programs are available online, offering flexibility that helps working professionals and non-traditional students earn a degree.

The degree features 36 credit hours of study, including core courses and electives. Some areas of study include advertising, management, strategic communications, marketing, research, media communications, business, and international communications.


Program Website

7. Master of Science in Public Relations

Montana State University Billings

Billings, Montana

In-State Tuition: $8,300

Out-of-State Tuition: $15,454

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 14:1

 The masters in public relations online at Montana State University Billings provide students with the essential practical and theoretical tools needed to pursue careers in public communication and public relations.

All courses are available online, and students can pick from four different program emphases: health communication, media and society communication, public communication, and public relations theory. All four plans of study require 30 credits of study, covering topics in research methods and issues in organizational communication.

The school also has extensive internship opportunities alongside graduate research and teaching assistantships.

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Program Website

8. MA in Contemporary Communication

Notre Dame of Maryland University

Baltimore, Maryland

In-State Tuition: $19,800

Out-of-State Tuition: $19,800

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 7:1

The online MA in Contemporary Communication from the Notre Dame of Maryland University provides students with the knowledge needed to develop their skills in entrepreneurial communication and new media while mastering new communication techniques.

Students are required to complete six credits in contemporary communication courses and 30 credits in discipline requirements, including at least 18 credits in any blend of communication and computer studies classes. The remaining credits may come from a mix of interdisciplinary studies, art, computer studies, communication arts, philosophy, or English courses.

The curriculum is available online. As a student, you will learn how to apply creative insights, critical analysis and technological competence in your current career or prepare for entry-level positions in communication management, organizational communication, public relations, and social media development.


Program Website

9. MS in Communication

Mississippi College

Clinton, Mississippi

In-State Tuition: $19,375

Out-of-State Tuition: $19,375

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 14:

The masters in public relations online is incorporated in the MS in Communication from Mississippi College, which offers a 31-semester-hour degree in integrated communication. You can choose from either a generalist concentration or a journalism concentration.

The former is available completely online. For it, students take 13 semester hours of required courses in communication research, persuasion, the process and effects of communication, and public relations. Also, students can further focus their degree via 15 semester hours of communication electives, picking classes from topics in communication theory, intercultural communication media sales, and negotiation.

As a graduate student, you pursue internships, seminars, and field studies, or choose to create a thesis as part of your elective requirements.


Program Website

10. MA in Digital Communication

University of North Carolina

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

In-State Tuition: $22,170

Out-of-State Tuition: $45,780

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 13:1

Are you interested in masters in public relations online? Consider the online MA in Digital Communication from the University of North Carolina. The University of North Carolina offers a 30-credit MA in Digital Communication for working communications professionals.

Students are required to complete nine courses over two years and spend the final semester working with a faculty member on a detailed project.

The broad curriculum blends application and concepts to equip students for management-level decision-making and strategic thinking in areas such as digital data and analytics, research methods and applications, writing for digital media, media law, new media and society, strategic communication, leadership, and usability and multimedia design.


Program Website

11. Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership

Park University

Parkville, Missouri

In-State Tuition: $20,160

Out-of-State Tuition: $20,160

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 15:1

Park University’s MA in Communication and Leadership is designed for professionals interested in pursuing a doctorate, advancing to a new position, or building upon their skills. The curriculum enables students to develop the organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills sought by top organizations.

Students complete 36 hours of coursework, which include a learning outcomes assessment/program assessment, 15 credits in an organizational emphasis, six credits of electives, and 15 credits of core classes in cross-cultural communication, the epistemology of communication, human communication perspectives, and research. Students are also open to topics in leadership and organizational change.

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Program Website

12. Master of Arts in Communication Arts

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, Tennessee

In-State Tuition: $18,700

Out-of-State Tuition: $42,466

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 18:1

If you are interested in masters in public relations online, you may also consider Austin Peay State University’s online MA in Communication Arts. The Department of Communication at the university offers an online MA in Communication Arts that is flexible enough to suit the needs of working professionals and full-time graduate students.

The program features 34 credit hours. If you can complete a full-time load of nine credit hours per semester, you can graduate within two years. Study areas include applied communication theory, communication law, pro-seminar in communication, and communication research methods.

As a student, you can pick from one off two degree concentrations in either media management or marketing communication, and even specializations in corporate communication or general communication.


Program Website

Frequently Asked Questions

Public Relation Masters Program is a post graduate course that is studied by individuals with utmost interest in media and communications field

If you earn a masters in public relations online, here are some of the common titles for public relations professionals: Communications Coordinator, Communications Manager, and Communications Director; Media Relations Manager; Event Coordinator; Digital Strategist; Social Media Manager; Public Affairs Coordinator; Crisis Management Agent; Corporate Spokesperson

You can work for a politician as a press secretary, or lead a team of communications professionals in an organization

Public Relations Specialists made a median salary of $61,150 in 2019. The best-paid 25 percent made $83,170 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $45,480.

Not at all! Public relation masters program holder gets to know the history of comms, marketing, advertising and all of these makes a masters in public relations online worthwhile.

What is a PR person called?

A publicist

Is public relations a good major?

Yes. Public relations is a highly competitive field and a degree is pretty much a must.

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