2027 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong public relations, advertising, & applied communication education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for public relations, advertising, & applied communication students.
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2027 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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
Utah Valley University earned the #1 spot for value among public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $51,242. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the best values for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $51,693. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,124 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $30,875. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $32,601 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,875 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Boise State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $22,977 in student loans. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $43,876 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,977 median debt. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $19,433. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $66,246. Set against $19,433 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 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.
