2026 Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their public relations, advertising, & applied communication programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public relations, advertising, & applied communication students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public relations, advertising, & applied communication education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication
Leading the list is Michigan State University, our #1 school for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $45,158 in their early career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $23,899 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 37 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $46,039. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Ball State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #3 spot this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 44 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Ball State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $38,020 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,879.
More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from Ball State University
University Of Wisconsin River Falls is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, ranking #4. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin River Falls awarded about 52 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $47,577 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin River Falls graduates carry a median of $24,245 in student loans.
See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for University Of Wisconsin River Falls
Grand Valley State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Allendale. About 67% of students finish within six years. Grand Valley State University awarded about 98 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $38,172 early in their careers. Grand Valley State University graduates carry a median of $26,377 in student loans.
See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Grand Valley State University
Oakland University landed the #6 spot for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 19 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Oakland University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from Oakland University earn around $40,299 in the first couple years of their career. Oakland University graduates carry a median of $24,975 in student loans.
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Bradley University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Bradley University graduates 76% of students within six years. Bradley University awarded about 18 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $38,351 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,819 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program at Bradley University
Franklin College placed #8 among the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Franklin. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 10 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Franklin College in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from Franklin College earn around $36,964 in the first couple years of their career. Franklin College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 33 schools evaluated.
- 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.
