2027 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in Pennsylvania

[Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public relations, advertising, & applied communication students.
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2027 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in Pennsylvania
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
Pennsylvania State University World Campus earned the #1 spot for value among public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools in Pennsylvania. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,356. Students borrow a median of $24,693 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Pennsylvania State University World Campus earn a median of $50,587 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,693 median debt. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Point Park University one of the best values for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,570. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $28,850 in student loans. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Point Park University earn a median of $32,495 early in their careers. Set against $28,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Susquehanna University earned it the #3 place for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. 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. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Susquehanna University earn a median of $36,632 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
A rank of #4 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the best values for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,693 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $60,523. That is a strong return on a $24,693 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Drexel University earned it the #5 place for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $41,800 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.