2026 Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in the The Plains States Region
Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools.
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Best Schools for Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication in the The Plains States Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication
Our analysis ranked University Of Nebraska Lincoln the best school in the country for a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication. This very large public university is located in the city of Lincoln. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 141 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $42,168. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication from University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Students looking for a strong public relations, advertising, & applied communication program will find one at Minnesota State University Mankato, which ranked #2. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $53,088. Typical student debt for the program is $25,260.
See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Minnesota State University Mankato
Students looking for a strong public relations, advertising, & applied communication program will find one at Missouri State University Springfield, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. Missouri State University Springfield graduates 58% of students within six years. About 30 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $40,178 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,329.
Get the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication details for Missouri State University Springfield
North Dakota State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, ranking #4. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 public relations, advertising, & applied communication students who graduated with this degree at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $39,223 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program at North Dakota State University Main Campus
Minnesota State University Moorhead is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, ranking #5. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. Minnesota State University Moorhead graduates 57% of students within six years. About 12 public relations, advertising, & applied communication degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead earn around $39,198 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,312 to complete this degree.
See the full public relations, advertising, & applied communication program report for Minnesota State University Moorhead
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 26 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.