2023 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Public Relations & Advertising School for You
Public Relations & Advertising is the #52 most popular major in the country with 21,099 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 312 schools in the United States to see which programs offered the best value experiences for public relations students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.
Featured Public Relations Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Communication - Public Relations
Prepare to develop your skills in building mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their public audiences.
MA in Communication - Public Relations
Learn how to use the latest technology and tactics to manage the flow of information between brands and the public with your Master's in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations at Southern New Hampshire University.
Top 25 Best Schools for Affordable Quality in Public Relations & Advertising
Our 2023 rankings named Brigham Young University - Provo the best value school in the United States for public relations and advertising students. BYU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Provo.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BYU are $6,120 per year. While working on their degree, public relations majors at BYU accumulate an average of around $11,974 in student debt.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, BYU also did well on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Brigham Young University - Provo Report
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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Metropolitan State University is a great value for public relations and advertising students. Metro State is a medium-sized public school located in the large city of Saint Paul.
Metro State undergraduate students pay an average of $9,394 in tuition and fees each year.
Metro State excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Franklin University is a great value for public relations and advertising students. Located in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Franklin University are $9,577 a year. While working on their degree, public relations majors at Franklin University accumulate an average of around $40,666 in student debt.
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Bellevue University is a great value for public relations and advertising students. Located in the large suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Bellevue University are $8,310 per year.
Bellevue University also claimed a spot on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Bellevue University Report
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend South Dakota State University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools list. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school located in the town of Brookings.
South Dakota State undergraduate students pay an average of $12,809 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, public relations majors at South Dakota State accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.
In addition to its great value ranking, South Dakota State is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at South Dakota State University Report
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University of Maryland Global Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools list. Located in the suburb of Adelphi, UMGC is a public college with a very large student population.
UMGC undergraduate students pay an average of $12,336 in tuition and fees each year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UMGC also is in the top 10% of our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking.
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University of Florida-Online ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools list. Located in the city of Gainesville, UF Online is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
UF Online undergraduate students pay an average of $16,579 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, public relations majors at UF Online accumulate an average of around $17,500 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $234, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
UF Online excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at University of Florida-Online Report
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North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public relations and advertising programs. Located in the midsize city of Fargo, North Dakota State University is a public school with a fairly large student population.
North Dakota State University undergraduate students pay an average of $14,876 in tuition and fees each year. Public Relations majors at North Dakota State University take out an average of $24,750 in student loans while working on their egree.
North Dakota State University excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at North Dakota State University - Main Campus
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University of Dayton landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public relations and advertising programs. UDayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton.
UDayton undergraduate students pay an average of $44,890 in tuition and fees each year.
UDayton excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Dayton
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With a ranking of #10, Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network did quite well on this year’s best value schools for public relations and advertising students. Located in the large city of Boston, Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network are $13,392 per year.
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Ashland University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for public relations and advertising students. It came in at #10 on the list. Ashland is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Ashland.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ashland are $23,090 a year. While working on their degree, public relations majors at Ashland accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.
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Miami University - Hamilton did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for public relations and advertising students. It came in at #12 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Hamilton, Miami University - Hamilton is a public school with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Miami University - Hamilton are $16,943 a year. Public Relations majors at Miami University - Hamilton take out an average of $24,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $511.
Miami University - Hamilton also claimed a spot on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Miami University - Hamilton
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Universidad del Sagrado Corazon came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking. Sagrado is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santurce.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Sagrado are $6,120 a year. While working on their degree, public relations majors at Sagrado accumulate an average of around $12,100 in student debt.
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Johnson & Wales University - Online ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools list. JWU Online is a small private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Providence.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at JWU Online are $13,365 a year. Public Relations majors at JWU Online take out an average of $24,500 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Villanova University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools list. Villanova is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Villanova are $59,020 a year.
Villanova also claimed a spot on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Villanova University Report
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University of Delaware came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking. UD is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Newark.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UD are $36,880 per year.
In addition to its great value ranking, UD is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list.
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Clarion University of Pennsylvania ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools list. Clarion University is a small public school located in the town of Clarion.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Clarion University are $16,052 per year.
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Purdue University Global came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Indianapolis, Purdue University Global is a public college with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Purdue University Global are $14,436 a year.
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With a ranking of #19, Miami University - Middletown did quite well on this year’s best value schools for public relations and advertising students. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Miami University - Middletown is a public school with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Miami University - Middletown are $17,303 per year. The average amount in student loans that public relations majors at Miami University - Middletown take out is $24,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $511.
In addition to its great value ranking, Miami University - Middletown is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Miami University - Middletown Report
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Marist College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking. Marist is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Marist are $41,305 a year.
In addition to its great value ranking, Marist is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Marist College
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Concordia University, Saint Paul landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public relations and advertising programs. Located in the large city of Saint Paul, Concordia University, Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Concordia University, Saint Paul are $23,900 per year.
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With a ranking of #21, San Jose State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for public relations and advertising students. San Jose State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of San Jose.
San Jose State undergraduate students pay an average of $19,732 in tuition and fees each year.
In addition to its great value ranking, San Jose State is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools list.
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With a ranking of #23, Valparaiso University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for public relations and advertising students. Located in the large suburb of Valparaiso, Valpo is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Valpo are $44,796 per year.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Valparaiso University
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University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for public relations and advertising students. It came in at #24 on the list. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school located in the town of River Falls.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UW - River Falls are $15,661 a year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UW - River Falls also is in the top 10% of our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools ranking.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
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Central Michigan University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for public relations and advertising students. It came in at #25 on the list. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Central Michigan are $13,094 a year. On average, public relations graduates from Central Michigan take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $258.
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Honorable Mentions
Here are some additional great value schools for Public Relations & Advertising students seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA |
| 48 | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI |
| 49 | Texas A&M University - College Station | College Station, TX |
| 50 | Trinity Washington University | Washington, DC |
| 51 | Saint Cloud State University | Saint Cloud, MN |
| 52 | University of South Florida - Main Campus | Tampa, FL |
| 53 | Missouri State University - Springfield | Springfield, MO |
| 54 | Iowa State University | Ames, IA |
| 55 | Appalachian State University | Boone, NC |
| 56 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX |
| 57 | Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ |
| 58 | Sinclair Community College | Dayton, OH |
| 59 | Minnesota State University - Moorhead | Moorhead, MN |
| 59 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown, PA |
| 61 | Ohio University - Athens Campus | Athens, OH |
| 62 | University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS |
Public Relations & Advertising by Region
View the Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
More Public Relations & Advertising Rankings
Other Related Public Relations Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BA in Communication - Public Relations
Prepare to develop your skills in building mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their public audiences.
MA in Communication - Public Relations
Learn how to use the latest technology and tactics to manage the flow of information between brands and the public with your Master's in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations at Southern New Hampshire University.
MA in Communication - New Media & Marketing
Keep your skills and knowledge at the forefront of new media technologies with this specialized online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Majors Related to Public Relations
One of 5 majors within the area of study, public relations and advertising has other similar majors worth exploring.
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Communication & Media Studies | 66,787 |
| Radio, Television & Digital Communication | 17,669 |
| Journalism | 13,552 |
| Communication & Journalism (Other) | 1,128 |
| Publishing | 336 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Bill Koplitz.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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