2026 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in the Middle Atlantic 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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 34 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools.
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2026 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools
Leading the list is University Of Delaware, our #1 best value for public relations, advertising, & applied communication in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $54,155. That is a strong return on a $24,861 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Canisius College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Canisius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,200. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $24,673. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Canisius College generally make around $42,672. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Pennsylvania State University World Campus one of the best values for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,356. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #4 makes Suny College At Buffalo one of the best values for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. Students from in state pay about $8,533 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $25,257. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $39,412 early in their careers. Set against $25,257 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication will find it at Rowan University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,574, compared with $26,932 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $35,116. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rowan University admits about 78% of applicants.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #6 among the best values for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,775, compared with $22,599 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $61,258. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Point Park University earned the #7 position for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,570 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,850 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $32,495. Set against $28,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Point Park University admits about 97% of applicants.
Messiah College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,240. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $26,195 in student loans. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $48,957. That is a strong return on a $26,195 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Susquehanna University earned the #9 position for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the town of Selinsgrove, Susquehanna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $59,850 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Susquehanna University generally make around $36,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Ithaca College earned the #11 position for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,616. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $39,446. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Ithaca College admits about 69% of applicants.
George Washington University earned the #12 position for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $73,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University earned the #13 position for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $68,089. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $16,483. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $91,362. Set against $16,483 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgetown University admits about 13% of applicants.
Drexel University came in at #14 for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $41,800. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Marist College came in at #15 for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $47,620 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $25,962. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Marist College earn a median of $70,802 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,962 median debt. Marist College admits about 56% of applicants.
Syracuse University earned the #16 position for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,528 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $26,000. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $58,798. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Howard University placed #17 among the best values for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Howard University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $35,810. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Howard University generally make around $39,120. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Howard University admits about 41% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
