2027 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in the Southwest 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 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 the Southwest 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
University Of Houston earned the #1 spot for value among public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $23,800 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $42,472. That is a strong return on a $23,800 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Paso Community College earned it the #2 place for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Texas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Students borrow a median of $21,817 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $49,157 early in their careers. Set against $21,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication will find it at University Of Central Oklahoma, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,818 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,704 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $36,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Texas Tech University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $21,500. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $50,074. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Texas Christian University came in at #6 for value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $24,148. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $48,053 early in their careers. Set against $24,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 44%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
