2026 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in Florida

[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong public relations, advertising, & applied communication education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 17 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 Florida
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
For return on investment in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, no school beat The University Of West Florida this year. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Students borrow a median of $19,677 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $52,014. Set against $19,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida International University earned it the #2 place for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $34,435. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Florida Main Campus earned it the #3 place for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $17,082 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $34,105. That is a strong return on a $17,082 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
University Of North Florida came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,523 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $48,628 early in their careers. Set against $18,523 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Students looking for strong value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication will find it at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $37,388 early in their careers. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Florida State University landed the #6 spot for public relations, advertising, & applied communication value this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $13,849 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $46,391 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,849 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Southern College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lakeland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,040. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $25,955. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $35,023. Set against $25,955 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Webber International University came in at #8 for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Webber International University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Babson Park. In-state tuition and fees average $33,770. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $26,310 in student loans. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Webber International University earn a median of $35,052 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,310 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Flagler College St Augustine ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Flagler College St Augustine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Augustine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,900. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $23,125. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Flagler College St Augustine earn a median of $32,713 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Miami Media School placed #10 among the best values for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Located in the city of Doral, Miami Media School is a small private for-profit university. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Miami Media School earn a median of $14,618 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Tampa placed #11 among the best values for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Located in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,408. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $25,000. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $36,977. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Lynn University came in at #12 for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Lynn University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,480. Students borrow a median of $21,391 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $50,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.