What can you do with a Public Relations degree from University of Central Florida?

First, some facts. Of the Public Relations graduates from University of Central Florida we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 13 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 75%, Public Relations graduates from University of Central Florida have a higher likelihood (+8%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 75%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 15% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Public Relations graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Public Relations graduate from University of Central Florida and our analysis:


Relevance score: 81%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2012 from University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Relations. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Advertising and Public Relations Intern
Downtown South
May 2012 - Aug 2012
As an Advertising and Public Relations Intern, the job directly applies the skills and knowledge gained from a B.A. in Public Relations, making it highly relevant.

Marketing Intern
Technomedia Solutions, LLC
May 2012 - Aug 2012
The Marketing Intern position at Technomedia Solutions, LLC utilizes relevant concepts from Public Relations and marketing theory acquired during the B.A., showing strong applicability.

Account Executive
TCreative
Jul 2013 - Oct 2016
As an Account Executive at TCreative, this role requires the application of Public Relations skills in client management and communications, making it very relevant.

Account Executive
Push
Oct 2016 - Present
The Account Executive position at Push directly involves Public Relations and marketing strategies, utilizing knowledge gained from the bachelor's degree on a daily basis.

Lead Project & Production Manager
Evolve Media Agency
2018 - Present
The Lead Project & Production Manager position at Evolve Media Agency may involve some transferrable skills in managing projects and production in media, but it does not primarily require Public Relations knowledge as a core qualification.

ABOUT

I'm a very passionate and engaged person when it comes to work and play. I absolutely love helping people and businesses achieve their goals!

What jobs can you get with a Public Relations degree from University of Central Florida?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at the job types that graduates with a Public Relations degree from the University of Central Florida have taken on over the years, it's clear that many of them stepped into roles that genuinely tap into their PR skills. A good number of alumni found positions as Account Executives, Social Media Specialists, or Communications Specialists. These roles directly involve managing communications, engaging with audiences, or crafting messages—all things that are central to what you'd learn in a PR program. For instance, roles like the Digital Marketing Specialist or the Public Relations Specialist showcase a clear connection between their education and their work responsibilities.

However, there are quite a few roles that don't align as closely with Public Relations. Positions such as Financial Representatives, Digital Marketing specialists focused on analytics, and even those in retail management seem to utilize only a fraction of the PR toolkit, mainly focusing more on sales or direct customer interactions rather than communication strategies. So, while many graduates landed relevant jobs that fully utilize their degree, there's also a sizable number whose roles drift away from the core aspects of Public Relations, indicating a mixed bag in terms of how directly applicable their education has been in the workforce. In short, it seems like if you major in Public Relations, you'll definitely find opportunities to use those skills, but you might end up in a job that’s somewhat related or even tangentially connected to PR concepts.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Public Relations graduates (this is across all Public Relations graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of Central Florida):

What kind of career trajectories do Public Relations graduates from University of Central Florida have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When looking at the career trajectories of folks who graduated with a Public Relations degree from the University of Central Florida, it seems that many kick off their careers with internships or entry-level positions related to marketing and communications. For instance, a lot of graduates have started out as interns in marketing or public relations at various companies. Over the first few years, many have landed roles such as Social Media Specialists, Account Executives, or Communications Specialists, which are pretty standard paths in the PR field. This indicates that the degree does open up doors and provides relevant experience right off the bat.

As time goes on—around five years post-graduation—many of these professionals seem to climb the ladder to more senior roles like Senior Marketing Associates, Managers in Strategic Marketing, or even Directors in specific fields such as Influencer Relations. A few have even started their own companies or taken on significant leadership roles. However, it’s worth noting that not everyone stays strictly within the PR sphere. Some graduates have found themselves veering into broader marketing roles or entirely different industries. Overall, while many graduates appear to have established solid careers related to Public Relations, there’s also a fair number who end up diversifying their career paths over time, which could either be a good or a bad thing depending on what they want to achieve.

How hard is a Public Relations degree from University of Central Florida?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations at the University of Central Florida, or really anywhere, tends to be on the moderately challenging side, but it’s definitely manageable if you’re into it. You'll dive into a mix of writing, communication strategies, media relations, and sometimes even a bit of marketing. There's a decent amount of group projects and presentations, so if you’re good at collaborating, that helps. The workload can feel a bit heavy during peak times, especially around exams or project deadlines, but if you stay organized and passionate about the subject, you’ll likely find it pretty rewarding and not too overwhelming!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Public Relations.

Do Public Relations graduates from University of Central Florida tend to make good money?

So, looking at these UCF grads, it seems like they've generally found their way into some solid jobs, which is a good sign for their earning potential. The ones who graduated earlier, like in 2012 and 2014, have moved up in their careers, landing roles like Account Executive and Senior Manager, which usually come with better pay. The 2016 and 2017 grads are also climbing the ladder in digital marketing and PR roles, which can pay decently, especially with experience. The newer grads, like those from 2021 and 2023, are still starting out, but they’ve snagged some relevant internships and entry-level positions that can set them up for future success. Overall, while they might not all be raking in the big bucks just yet, their career paths suggest they're on track to make decent money as they gain more experience.

What buzzwords do Public Relations graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Public Relations (this is across all Public Relations graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University of Central Florida). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Public Relations?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Public Relations (ordered by the average relevance score of their Public Relations graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Boston University 85 11
University of Central Florida 75 13
University of Oregon 74 13
The University of Georgia 73 15
Georgia Southern University 73 10
California State University-Dominguez Hills 73 11
Iowa State University 70 10
Florida International University 69 20
University of Alabama 69 13
University of South Carolina 67 16
University of South Carolina-Columbia 67 13
Lee University 66 12
Grand Valley State University 63 14
Auburn University 63 16
Hofstra University 62 14
Texas Tech University 61 26
Kennesaw State University 61 16
Suffolk University 61 13
University of South Florida 59 10
The University of Alabama 57 19
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 57 14
Penn State University 56 33
The University of Texas at Austin 55 22
The University of Texas at Arlington 55 11
California State University, Fullerton 55 11
Texas State University 54 18
Rowan University 53 10
University of Florida 52 35
Ball State University 52 10
University of North Florida 52 12
DePaul University 51 20
Northern Kentucky University 51 10
Illinois State University 50 13
University of Oklahoma 50 16
West Virginia University 47 10