2026 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in Arkansas
[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 5 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 Arkansas
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
Leading the list is Arkansas Tech University, our #1 best value for public relations, advertising, & applied communication in Arkansas. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,674 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,668. Students borrow a median of $23,257 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University generally make around $45,115. That is a strong return on a $23,257 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Arkansas State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #2 spot this year. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Jonesboro. Students from in state pay about $8,090 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Arkansas State University Main Campus generally make around $40,812. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication will find it at University Of Central Arkansas, which ranked #3. University Of Central Arkansas is a large public school located in the city of Conway. Students from in state pay about $10,523 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Students borrow a median of $22,800 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $35,177. Set against $22,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $24,019. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $52,555. That is a strong return on a $24,019 median debt. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.
Harding University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #5 spot this year. Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. Students from in state pay about $25,962 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $26,854. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Harding University earn a median of $33,577 early in their careers. Set against $26,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harding University admits about 70% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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 3 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.
