UCM’s Online PR Degree Named Most Affordable Program by OnlineU

WARRENSBURG, MO – Anyone who is seeking an affordable Public Relations degree from a nationally recognized academic program, may want to consider the University of Central Missouri. The academic rankings organization OnlineU has designated UCM #1 on its list of colleges and universities that offer the Most Affordable Online Public Relations Degrees.

OnlineU points to an annual tuition rate of $7,748 as the key factor in ranking UCM at the top of its list of 10 PR programs from across the United States. UCM, which houses a PRSA-certified Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Strategic Communication within the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies, was one of only two Missouri public comprehensive institutions that made the list.

In announcing these rankings, OnlineU noted that an online bachelor’s degree in Public Relations is ideal for students who are interested in careers in media, marketing, consumer services, and/or technology. Students who pursue this type of degree can expect to develop skills in writing, public speaking, researching and social media. In pursuit of their degree, students also are often required to complete a capstone course before they graduate, and they will gain real-life experiences through a PR internship.

In order for an institution to be included in the OnlineU rankings, a college or university must have fully online degrees and meet degree requirements for the ranking. Institutions also must be accredited and meet online student representation requirements. OnlineU ranks each institution after manually researching online tuition.

UCM’s B.S. in Public Relations and Strategic Communication offers a Public Relations online degree option through the Office of Online and Learning Engagement. Individuals who are interested can enroll part time or full time beginning the fall, spring or summer, and they can take all online courses to finish their bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. The program is especially well-suited for transfer and transition students.

UCM’s online B.S. degree is a 120-hour program. Core courses for this major include Design and Layout, Writing and Editing and Advanced PR Writing, Special Topics in Public Relations – Entertainment PR, and Global Sports PR. All of these classes are taught by seasoned faculty members who have professional experience in their subject areas, and are experts in strategy and theory.

Students in UCM’s Public Relations program are part of an academic area where they can expect to find employment once they graduate. Statistics show that 97 percent of the university’s PRSC majors are able to find a job in within their academic field or a related area of interest, or go on to pursue graduate study within six months after completing their degrees. UCM’s program also is nationally recognized. During the past two years, the university’s PR and Strategic Communications program has been named to the PRNews Education A-List, a designation given to the top programs in the nation.

 “UCM's program value is among the best. It's one of the most hands-on, applied programs in the country and it amplifies students' educations by training them to become true strategists,” said Tricia Hansen-Horn, Ph.D., professor and coordinator of the B.S. in Public Relations and Strategic Communication program.

She added, “Our online program can accommodate students from all states and around the world; we support them through one-to-one mentorships and advising. We're happy to welcome online students to the UCM Public Relations and Strategic Communication program.” 

While UCM’s Public Relations Program was listed as #1 for Most Affordable Online Degrees in Public Relations, several additional programs were named to the top 10 in other OnlineU categories for Salary Score and Affordability. These programs include master’s degrees in the academic areas of Nutrition, Psychology, Sports Management, Cybersecurity, Aviation, Communications, Secondary Education, and Library Science, as well as the Emergency Management program. 

Learn more about UCM’s Public Relations online degree by contacting Brenda Fuhr, manager of student transition and engagement at UCM-Lee’s Summit, at 660-543-8252 or fuhr@ucmo.edu or Dr. Tricia Hansen Horn, professor and coordinator of the B.S in Public Relations and Strategic Communication, at 660-543-8635 or hansen-horn@ucmo.edu.