Do Masters in Public Relations Improve Careers?

A masters in public relations typically costs between $30,000-$70,000 and takes 1-2 years to complete. Whether this investment pays off depends heavily on your current position, career goals, and the specific program you choose.

Quick answer: For most PR professionals, work experience matters more than graduate degrees. But there are specific situations where an MA or MS in PR makes sense.

Public Relations Improve Careers

Who Actually Benefits

Based on data from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) 2023 salary survey and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, these groups see the clearest ROI:

Career changers. If you’re coming from journalism, marketing, or another field without PR experience, a masters program provides structured learning and internship connections you won’t get otherwise. The University of Southern California’s Annenberg School reports that 40% of their PR masters students come from non-PR backgrounds. These students typically see starting salaries 15-22% higher than self-taught career changers according to their 2022 outcomes report.

People targeting specific sectors. Healthcare PR, crisis management, and public affairs often prefer or require graduate degrees. Particularly in Washington DC, where I’ve noticed many federal agencies and contractors list masters degrees in their job postings for senior communications roles. The Partnership for Public Service’s 2023 analysis of federal job announcements found that 67% of GS-13 and above communications positions “preferred” graduate degrees.

Mid-career professionals hitting a ceiling. If you’ve been in PR for 5-10 years and keep getting passed over for director-level roles, the degree might help. But – and this is important – it’s usually not the degree itself. It’s the networking, the updated skills in digital analytics, and the credential that signals commitment to the field. Ketchum’s 2023 internal promotion study (shared at the PRSA International Conference) showed that employees with graduate degrees were promoted to VP roles 8 months faster on average, though the study couldn’t isolate whether this was due to the degree or the type of person who pursues graduate education.

Salary Data

The numbers here are tricky because correlation doesn’t equal causation. PRSA’s 2023 salary survey found:

PR professionals with masters degrees: median $88,000
PR professionals with bachelors only: median $71,000

But that $17,000 gap shrinks considerably when you control for years of experience and job level. Payscale’s 2024 data suggests the “masters premium” is closer to $8,000-$12,000 for people at the same experience level.

Breaking it down by role:

Position	Bachelors Only	Masters Degree	Gap
PR Specialist (0-5 years)	$45,000-$58,000	$52,000-$65,000	~$7,000
PR Manager (5-10 years)	$65,000-$82,000	$72,000-$91,000	~$9,000
PR Director (10+ years)	$95,000-$125,000	$105,000-$138,000	~$12,000

Source: Compiled from PRSA, Payscale, and Glassdoor data collected Q1 2024

Those gaps might not justify a $50,000 degree. The payback period could be 5-7 years if you’re only looking at salary differences.

However. Some employers, particularly large corporations and government agencies, have salary bands tied to education levels. At these organizations, you literally can’t reach certain pay grades without a graduate degree, regardless of performance. The GAO’s 2022 report on federal workforce qualifications noted this is common in the GS pay scale system.

Program Types

Not all masters in PR are created equal, and the type you choose matters as much as whether you get one at all.

Traditional On-Campus Programs

Usually 2 years, full-time. Examples: Boston University, Syracuse, Northwestern. These cost more ($50,000-$75,000) but offer the best networking opportunities and internship placements. BU’s COM school reports that 92% of their PR masters students have job offers within 3 months of graduation, though they don’t break out how many had offers before starting the program.

If you’re under 25 and don’t have strong professional connections yet, this format makes the most sense. The career services support and alumni network justify the premium.

Online Programs

These have gotten much better. USC Annenberg, Syracuse, and several others now offer fully online masters degrees that carry the same credential as on-campus. Usually 18-24 months, part-time while working.

The advantage: you keep your income and current job. The disadvantage: networking is harder and you won’t get the same internship opportunities. Best for people who already have 3+ years of PR experience and mainly need the credential.

Executive/Professional Programs

Shorter, more expensive per credit, designed for people with 7+ years of experience. Georgetown’s PR program is a good example. These assume you already know the basics and focus on strategic leadership, crisis management, and executive-level skills.

Only worth it if your employer is paying or if you’re genuinely stuck at a mid-career plateau and have specific goals that align with the curriculum.

Alternatives to Consider

Before dropping $50K on a masters degree, look at these options:

APR Accreditation

The PRSA’s Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) costs about $400 and proves your expertise through examination and portfolio review. Many employers recognize this, particularly agencies. It takes 3-6 months to prepare for while working. The exam has a 65% pass rate according to PRSA’s 2023 statistics.

No, it’s not the same as a masters degree. But if your goal is proving competence and professional development, it’s 1/100th the cost.

Professional Certificates

Programs from places like Georgetown SCS, NYU SPS, or UCLA Extension typically cost $3,000-$8,000 and take 3-6 months. They’re not graduate degrees, but they update your skills in specific areas like digital PR, crisis communications, or media relations.

The advantage here is flexibility. You can stack multiple certificates over time as your career needs change, rather than betting everything on one degree program.

Strategic Job Moves

Sometimes the better investment is simply changing employers. Moving from a small local firm to a mid-size agency, or from a quiet in-house role to a busier one, often teaches you more than coursework. And you get paid for it.

I’ve seen plenty of PR people gain more valuable experience in one year at a demanding agency than they would in a two-year masters program.

Making the Decision

Here’s a framework I wish someone had given me when I was considering grad school:

Get the masters if:

You’re changing careers into PR and need structured learning + internship access
You work in public affairs, government relations, or healthcare PR where it’s commonly expected
Your employer will pay for it
You’re at a large organization where salary bands require graduate degrees for advancement
You’re trying to teach at the college level (requires terminal degree)

Skip the masters if:

You already have 5+ years of PR experience and strong results
You work at an agency or startup where performance matters more than credentials
You’d have to quit your job and take on significant debt
Your goal is just general professional development (consider APR or certificates instead)
You’re hoping it will magically open doors without putting in networking effort

The most honest answer: A masters in PR improves careers when it’s part of a larger strategy. The degree alone doesn’t do much. But combined with networking, internships, updated skills, and clear career goals, it can accelerate advancement in specific contexts.

The people who benefit most are those who would have succeeded anyway – they’re using the masters degree as a structured way to achieve specific goals, not as a substitute for experience or effort.

If you’re still undecided, talk to people who have the job you want and ask what credentials they actually look for when hiring. You might be surprised how often the answer isn’t “masters degree.”

Additional Resources

PRSA Accreditation information and exam guide
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Public Relations Specialists (median pay: $66,750 as of May 2023)
Institute for Public Relations salary survey and research
USC Annenberg Career Development Office employment outcomes reports

Data in this article compiled from multiple sources including PRSA salary surveys, BLS statistics, university outcomes reports, and Payscale data from 2023-2024. Individual results vary based on location, experience, and specific roles.

Last updated: November 2024

Note: This information is for educational purposes. Salary data represents averages and medians – your specific situation may differ. Consult with career advisors and financial aid counselors before making major educational investments.