The School of Communications is one of 20 institutions recognized in the 2024 Education A-List, the PR industry’s comprehensive roster of the top programs for career advancement in public relations and communications.
Elon’s School of Communications was named to the 2024 PRNEWS Education A-List, a competitive distinction recognizing the nation’s most innovative schools for career advancement in PR and communications. This is the third year in a row that Elon has been named to this prestigious list.
The 20 honorees on this year’s list, hailing from across the country, were touted for their new degree specializations, the success of students earning multiple internship opportunities, and the institutions’ ability to provide access to top professionals working within the industry.
To compile the 2024 list, which was officially released on May 23, members of PRNEWS editorial staff examined factors such as curricula, diversity, faculty composition, academic awards and coursework. The group also considered off-campus offerings, such as internships, and how the schools’ coursework reflected the continued evolution of the communications field.
In its description of Elon, the Education A-List website championed ElonComm’s faculty size, core curriculum offerings and elective courses. It also touted the school’s new interdisciplinary Health Communications minor, coordinated by Professor of Strategic Communications Julie Lellis.
“We are humbled to be recognized alongside other A-List programs from across the country, and it is a testament to the hard work of our students, faculty and staff who continue to raise the bar of excellence at Elon,” said Kenn Gaither, dean of the School of Communications. “Through rigorous coursework, internships, and Live Oak Communications – our in-house, student-run strategic communications agency – our students prove again and again to be industry-ready and prepared to make an immediate impact post-graduation.”
Among the institutions joining Elon on this year’s A-List are American University, Boston University, New York University, Syracuse University, the University of Florida and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, among others. According to PRNEWS, this year’s list was compiled following the review of hundreds of schools and universities.
“The Education A-List is the only editorial roster of its kind, dedicated to the most innovative higher learning institutions for PR & communications,” said Kaylee Hultgren, content director for PRNEWS. “This year’s esteemed list supports our view that PR and communications programs provide additional, high-quality training for professionals in the industry. Moreover, their continued evolution – through both a content and technological perspective – keeps apace with the real-world companies, organizations and new trends and specialties that are driving the industry forward.”