2027 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. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools.
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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
No school ranked higher than Michigan State University this year for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. There were roughly 64 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,899.
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University Of Michigan Dearborn is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #2 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Dearborn. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Dearborn in the most recent year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $62,536 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,516.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh one of the top schools for public relations, advertising, & applied communication. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn around $46,039 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
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Ball State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Ball State University awarded about 31 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $38,020 early in their careers. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $23,879 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong public relations, advertising, & applied communication program will find one at University Of Wisconsin River Falls, which ranked #5. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. University Of Wisconsin River Falls awarded about 37 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.
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Grand Valley State University landed the #6 spot for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 110 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Grand Valley State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program make about $38,172 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,377 to complete this degree.
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Bradley University came in at #7 for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at Bradley University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from Bradley University earn around $38,351 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,819.
See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Bradley University
Franklin College earned the #8 position for public relations, advertising, & applied communication this year. Located in the suburb of Franklin, Franklin College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Franklin College awarded about 10 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees in the most recent data 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. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from Franklin College
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 8 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.