2020 Most Affordable Online Master's in Public Relations Programs
All 22 of these colleges and universities offer affordable online master's in public relations programs. Stephen F. Austin State University, the #1 option, charges only $6,060 per year. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, ranked #2, has an annual tuition rate of $6,511 for their MA in Mass Communication - Strategic Communication/Public Relations, offering classes such as News Media and the First Amendment, PR for 21st Century Non-Profits, and Public Relations Cases.
You can read more about our ranked schools below or browse our rankings of the most affordable online bachelor's in public relations degrees. View our methodology or learn more about OnlineU.
All tuition numbers were manually collected and verified
| Rank | School | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Stephen F. Austin State University | $6,060 | |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | $6,511 | |
| Murray State University | $8,704 | |
| Washington State University | $8,925 | |
| University of Florida | $9,457 | |
| Arkansas State University | $9,510 | |
| Ball State University | $11,067 | |
| Purdue University - Main Campus | $11,268 | |
| Southern New Hampshire University Online | $11,286 | |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | $11,862 | |
| University of Missouri | $13,769 | |
| Webster University | $14,040 | |
| Northeastern University | $16,698 | |
| Liberty University | $18,080 | |
| Western New England University | $19,584 | |
| The George Washington University | $19,725 | |
| Georgetown University | $20,880 | |
| Lasell College | $21,600 | |
| Montana State University-Billings | $22,720 | |
| University of Denver | $22,816 | |
| Golden Gate University | $24,150 | |
| Drexel University | $29,969 |
- Annual Tuition: $6,060
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,746
- Example Classes: International Media; Media and Politics; Seminar in Public Relations
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication - Advertising and Public Relations (Media Project Option)
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication - Advertising and Public Relations (Non-Thesis Option)
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication - Advertising and Public Relations (Thesis Option)
- Master of Science in Resource Communications (Non-Thesis Option)
- Master of Science in Resource Communications (Thesis Option)
- Annual Tuition: $6,511
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 2,800
- Example Classes: News Media and the First Amendment; PR for 21st Century Non-Profits; Public Relations Cases
Online Master's Degrees
- MA in Mass Communication - Mass Media Research
- MA in Mass Communication - Professional Mass Media - Multi-Platform Journalism
- MA in Mass Communication - Professional Mass Media - Strategic Communication/Public Relations
- Annual Tuition: $8,704
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,398
- Example Classes: Media, Culture, Gender and Race; Methods of Communication Research; New Media Technologies; Philosophical and Ethical Concepts of the Mass Media
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Mass Communication - Public Relations
- Master of Science in Mass Communication - Public Relations
- MS Mass Communications - Public Relations
- Annual Tuition: $8,925
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: NWCCU
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 5,380
- Example Classes: Consumer Behavior and Brand Development; Creative Media Strategies & Techniques; Persuasion for Professional Communicators; Professional Digital Content Promotion; Professional Marketing Communication Management and Campaigns; Professional Multimedia Content Creation
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Strategic Communication
- Annual Tuition: $9,457
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 16,727
- Example Classes: Brand Management; Corporate Reputation & Communication; Intercultural Communication; Issues and Crisis Management; Measuring Change; Social Media Metrics & Evaluation
Online Master's Degrees
- MA in Mass Communication - Audience Analytics
- MA in Mass Communication - Public Interest Communication
- MA in Mass Communication - Public Relations and Communication Management
- Annual Tuition: $9,510
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 4,359
- Example Classes: Crisis Communication; Integrated Marketing Communication; Media Entrepreneurship
Online Master's Degrees
- MS in Media Management
- Annual Tuition: $11,067
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 5,724
- Example Classes: Public Relations Campaigns; Public Relations Case Studies; Public Relations Evaluation Techniques; Public Relations Theories and Applications; Studies in Journalism and Communication Research
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Executive Development and Public Service - Communications
- Master of Arts in Public Relations
- Master of Arts in Public Relations - Media Analytics Concentration
- Master of Arts in Public Relations - PR Leadership Concentration
- Annual Tuition: $11,268
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 10,739
- Example Classes: Persuasive Communication; Seminar in Crisis Communication; Seminar in Global Strategic Communication; Strategic Communication and Professional Writing; Strategic Communication and Social Media; Strategic Public Relations; Survey Design, Analysis and Reporting for Strategic Communication
Online Master's Degrees
- MS in Communication - Strategic Communication/Public Relations
- Annual Tuition: $11,286
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: NECHE
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 21,375
- Example Classes: Communication for Leadership; Integrated Public Relations Campaigns & Measurement; Reputation Management: Building a Brand; Spread the Word: Social Media Practices; Strategic Communication in a New Age
Online Master's Degrees
- MA in Communication - Public Relations
- Annual Tuition: $11,862
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: MSCHE
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 13,350
- Example Classes: Crisis Communication Management; Global Public Relations; Public Relations Campaigns; Public Relations Techniques; Public Relations Theory and Practice; Public Relations Writing
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Science in Management - Public Relations
- Annual Tuition: $13,769
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 7,359
- Example Classes: Changing Media Business Models; Communication in Media Organizations; Media Ethics; Principles and Tools in Strategic Communication Planning; Strategic Communication Research
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Journalism - Strategic Communication
- Annual Tuition: $14,040
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 8,348
- Example Classes: Introduction to Interactive Communications; Media Production Management; Multinational Public Relations; Strategic Communication Applications; Written Storytelling
Online Master's Degrees
- MA in Public Relations
- Annual Tuition: $16,698
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: NECHE
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 7,718
- Example Classes: Advanced Public Relations Content Development; Community Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility; Leveraging Digital Technologies: Strategy, Assessment, and Governance; Public Relations Content Development; Public Relations Research: Understanding External Audiences; Social Media and Brand Strategy Implementation
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Science in Corporate and Organizational Communication - Public and Media Relations
- Annual Tuition: $18,080
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 33,217
- Example Classes: Communication & Conflict; Ethical & Legal Issues in Marketing; Marketing Promotions; Media Technologies & Communication Strategies; Strategic Communication Campaigns for the Digital Age; Strategic Marketing Management
Online Master's Degrees
- MS: Marketing - Public Relations
- MBA: Public Relations
- MS: Healthcare Admin: Public Relations
- Annual Tuition: $19,584
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: NECHE
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,029
- Example Classes: Manufacturing and Managing Public Opinion; Public Relations for NonProfits; Strategic Approaches to Public Relations; Strategies for Social and Digital Media; Writing for Communication Professionals
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Communication - Public Relations
- Master of Business Administration in Public Relations
- Annual Tuition: $19,725
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: MSCHE
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 31,252
- Example Classes: Crisis and Issues Management; Ethical Standards in Public Relations and Public Affairs; Media Relations in a Digital World; Public Opinion and Political Socialization; Sustainability Communication Strategies
Online Master's Degrees
- MPS in Strategic Public Relations
- Annual Tuition: $20,880
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: MSCHE
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 11,745
- Example Classes: Communications Research; Conversations in Ethics; Elements of Communications Planning; Public Relations Writing
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations & Corporate Communications
#18 Lasell College
- Annual Tuition: $21,600
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: NECHE
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 386
- Example Classes: Communication Research; Crisis Communication; Persuasion & Public Opinion; Writing for Public Relations
Online Master's Degrees
- MS Communication - Integrated Marketing
- MS Communication - Negotiations & Conflict Resolution
- MS Communication - Public Relations
- MS Communication - Public Speaking
- Annual Tuition: $22,720
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: NWCCU
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 355
- Example Classes: Communicating Online; Issues in Organizational Communication; Media Criticism; Media for Social Change; Public Influence; The Law of Public Communication
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Science in Public Relations
- Annual Tuition: $22,816
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 6,151
- Example Classes: Digital Marketing Communication; Dimensions of Reputation Management; Public Relations Principles and Process; Public Relations Research and Measurement; Public Relations Writing and Tactics
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Communication Management - Public Relations
- Annual Tuition: $24,150
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: WSCUC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 2,100
- Example Classes: Managing Public Issues: Consumer Affairs and Government Relations; Media Relations and the Professional Spokesperson; Writing for Public Relations and Marketing Communications
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications - Public Relations
- Annual Tuition: $29,969
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: MSCHE
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 8,910
- Example Classes: Digital Publishing; Ethics for Public Communication; Event Planning; Public Relations Writing; Telecom Regulation and Policy; Theories of Communication and Persuasion
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Science in Communication - Public Communication