2023 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
Finding the Best Public Relations & Advertising School for You
Out of all the majors we analyze each year, public relations and advertising was ranked #52 in the country. In fact 21,099 degrees and certificates were handed out in 2020-2021.
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Great Lakes Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 66 schools in the Great Lakes Region 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.
This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. 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.
For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees 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 10 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools
Our 2023 rankings named Franklin University the best value school in the Great Lakes Region for public relations and advertising students. Located in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.
Franklin University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,577 in tuition and fees each 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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Out of the 66 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Dayton landed the # 2 spot on the list. UDayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Dayton.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UDayton are $44,890 per year.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UDayton also is in the top 15% of our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Dayton
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The excellent programs at Ashland University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best public relations and advertising schools in the Great Lakes Region . 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.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Ashland University Report
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Out of the 66 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Miami University - Hamilton landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Hamilton, Miami University - Hamilton is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Miami University - Hamilton are $16,943 per 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 excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University Global. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the small city of Indianapolis, Purdue University Global is a public school with a fairly 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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Miami University - Middletown did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for public relations and advertising students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the small 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.
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Valparaiso University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value public relations and advertising programs. 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.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at Valparaiso University Report
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University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. 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 in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
Full Public Relations & Advertising at University of Wisconsin - River Falls Report
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Central Michigan University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the distant town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Central Michigan undergraduate students pay an average of $13,094 in tuition and fees each 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.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Central Michigan University
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With a ranking of #10, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on this year’s best value schools for public relations and advertising students. University of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at University of Akron Main Campus are $11,880 a year. While working on their degree, public relations majors at University of Akron Main Campus accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $504, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Akron Main Campus
Request InformationHonorable Mentions
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Youngstown State University | Youngstown, OH |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh | Oshkosh, WI |
| 12 | Ferris State University | Big Rapids, MI |
Best Public Relations & Advertising Colleges by State
Explore the best public relations and advertising schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 1,190 |
| Ohio | 634 |
| Illinois | 930 |
| Indiana | 322 |
| Wisconsin | 288 |
More Public Relations & Advertising Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
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 Majors Related to Public Relations
| 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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