by our College Data Analytics Team
[Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/advertising/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value advertising schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in advertising, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in advertising, no school beat Sinclair Community College this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $12,525. Early-career advertising graduates make about $35,348. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ferris State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in advertising, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Students borrow a median of $22,580 to complete the advertising program here. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $54,608. Set against $22,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in advertising, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the advertising program here. Early-career advertising graduates make about $54,763. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value advertising schools. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Advertising graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Advertising graduates of University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of $46,039 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in advertising will find it at University Of Southern Indiana, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $25,270. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $34,736. Set against $25,270 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
Ball State University earned the #6 position for value in advertising this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,082 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $23,879. Early-career advertising graduates make about $38,020. Set against $23,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University earned the #7 position for value in advertising this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Advertising graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $37,718. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Central Michigan University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value advertising schools. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the advertising program here. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $40,346. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value advertising schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $23,899. Early-career advertising graduates make about $45,158. Set against $23,899 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value advertising schools. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Advertising graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career advertising graduates make about $40,867. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Bradley University earned the #11 position for value in advertising this year. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. Advertising graduates carry a median of $26,819 in student loans. Advertising graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $54,513 early in their careers. Set against $26,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #12 for value in advertising this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $22,519. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $42,296. That is a strong return on a $22,519 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Columbia College Chicago came in at #13 for value in advertising this year. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $26,000. Early-career advertising graduates make about $39,794. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Marquette University landed the #14 spot for advertising value this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,170. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $25,000. Early-career advertising graduates make about $40,583. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #15 for value in advertising this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Advertising graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $43,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.