2027 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools.
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2027 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools
University Of Michigan Dearborn earned the #1 spot for value among public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. Set against $26,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication will find it at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $23,146 in student loans. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $56,930 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,146 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication will find it at University Of Wisconsin River Falls, which ranked #3. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,008, while out-of-state students pay about $17,470. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $24,245. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $47,577 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,245 median debt. University Of Wisconsin River Falls admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,532, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $46,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh admits about 86% of applicants.
Albion College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Albion, Albion College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,950. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $26,254 in student loans. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $40,829. Set against $26,254 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University earned the #6 position for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. 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 public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $38,020. That is a strong return on a $23,879 median debt. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Michigan State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication 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, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $23,899 in student loans. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $45,158. That is a strong return on a $23,899 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Valley State University earned the #8 position for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $26,377 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $38,172. Set against $26,377 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Bradley University earned the #9 position for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication 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. Students borrow a median of $26,819 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $38,351. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Franklin College placed #10 among the best values for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Located in the suburb of Franklin, Franklin College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,710. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Franklin College earn a median of $36,964 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #11 spot for public relations, advertising, & applied communication value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.