2026 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/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for public relations, advertising, & applied communication students.
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2026 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. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $16,478 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $51,242. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication will find it at Boise State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,048, while out-of-state students pay about $27,788. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $22,977. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $43,876. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,875 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $32,601. Set against $30,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Students looking for strong value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication will find it at Colorado State University Fort Collins, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $51,693 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $19,433 in student loans. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $66,246. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado Christian University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. Students from in state pay about $28,846 in tuition and fees. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $36,092 in student loans. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Colorado Christian University earn a median of $47,333 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $36,092 median debt.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
