2027 Best Value Advertising Schools

[Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/advertising/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 77 schools to find the best return on investment for advertising students.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value Advertising School for You
The right advertising school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Advertising Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
See how we build our rankings
Customizing Your List
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Advertising Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
2027 Best Value Advertising Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in advertising, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Advertising Schools
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among advertising schools in the United States. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,439 to complete the advertising program here. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $42,099. That is a strong return on a $17,439 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Florida Online one of the best values for advertising. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,876 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $17,439. Early-career advertising graduates make about $42,099. Set against $17,439 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
A rank of #3 makes Santa Monica College one of the best values for advertising. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,193 ten years after entry.
Palomar College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in advertising, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, Palomar College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,354, while out-of-state students pay about $10,650. Median earnings reach $42,300 ten years out.
University Of South Florida Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in advertising, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $17,082. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $52,885. Set against $17,082 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Sinclair Community College landed the #6 spot for advertising value this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the advertising program here. Early-career advertising graduates make about $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Central Florida landed the #7 spot for advertising value this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Advertising graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $37,388. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Ferris State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value advertising schools. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Advertising graduates carry a median of $22,580 in student loans. Early-career advertising graduates make about $54,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value advertising schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $78,988 ten years after entry. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Murray State University placed #10 among the best values for advertising. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the advertising program here. Advertising graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $38,054 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
El Paso Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value advertising schools. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the advertising program here. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
University Of Georgia earned the #12 position for value in advertising this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $23,394 to complete the advertising program here. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $43,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Kean University came in at #13 for value in advertising this year. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,299 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,446 for out-of-state students. Advertising graduates carry a median of $26,703 in student loans. Advertising graduates of Kean University earn a median of $48,705 early in their careers. Set against $26,703 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #14 for value in advertising this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the advertising program here. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $54,763. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At El Paso came in at #15 for value in advertising this year. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the advertising program here. Advertising graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $33,280 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
Western Kentucky University earned the #16 position for value in advertising this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Advertising graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $35,534. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Memphis placed #17 among the best values for advertising. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the advertising program here. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $39,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Washington State University earned the #18 position for value in advertising this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Students from in state pay about $13,391 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $20,500. Early-career advertising graduates make about $45,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Southern Indiana earned the #19 position for value in advertising this year. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,066, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $25,270. Advertising graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $34,736 early in their careers. Set against $25,270 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #20 spot for advertising value this year. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Advertising graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $46,039. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earned the #21 position for value in advertising this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,377. Advertising graduates carry a median of $20,718 in student loans. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus generally make around $45,759. That is a strong return on a $20,718 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Houston placed #22 among the best values for advertising. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,800 in student loans. Advertising graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $57,529 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
Brigham Young University Provo placed #23 among the best values for advertising. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Advertising graduates carry a median of $11,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $51,436. Set against $11,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University came in at #24 for value in advertising this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Students borrow a median of $23,879 to complete the advertising program here. Advertising graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $38,020 early in their careers. Set against $23,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Montclair State University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value advertising schools. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Advertising graduates carry a median of $25,286 in student loans. Early-career advertising graduates make about $44,369. That is a strong return on a $25,286 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Advertising Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s advertising value ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 77 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 77 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.