2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Relations
100
Ranked Colleges
5,216
Degrees Awarded
$14,900
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value PR Schools” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Public Relations is the 138th most popular major in the country with 5,216 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
For this year’s “Best Value PR Schools” ranking, we looked at 100 colleges that offer a degree in public relations. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public relations programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the public relations program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Public Relations Schools
The pr school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value PR Schools”.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value PR Schools
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value PR Schools.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Public Relations
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value PR Schools list. Located in Provo, Utah, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 88 diplomas to qualified ’s PR students in 2020-2021.
BYU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Public Relations Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Provo is $13,474 for pr students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Public Relations at BYU
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend South Dakota State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value PR Schools. South Dakota State is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $18,578 for pr students per year to attend South Dakota State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Relations at South Dakota State
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central Michigan University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value PR Schools. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 67 ’s PR degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $16,007 for pr students per year to attend Central Michigan.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Central Michigan University Public Relations Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value PR Schools. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 213 ’s PR degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UF, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Relations Schools” ranking. It costs about $5,135 for pr students per year to attend University of Florida.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Public Relations at University of Florida
Out of the 100 schools in the Best Value PR Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Tech University landed the #5 spot on the list. Texas Tech University is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 146 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Texas Tech also made our “Best Public Relations Schools” list, coming in at #19. The yearly cost to attend Texas Tech is $16,194 for pr students.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Relations at Texas Tech
Iowa State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value PR Schools ranking. Iowa State is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 69 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Public Relations Schools” list. It costs about $16,002 for pr students per year to attend Iowa State.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Public Relations at Iowa State
Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value PR Schools ranking. Missouri State is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 31 ’s PR degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,718 for PR students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Relations at Missouri State University - Springfield
University of Northern Iowa landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value PR Schools ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 41 ’s PR degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $16,438 for pr students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Relations at UNI
With a ranking of #9, University of Houston did quite well on the 2023 Best Value PR Schools list. Located in Houston, Texas, this large public school handed out 85 diplomas to qualified ’s PR students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,721 for PR students per year to attend UH.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Relations at University of Houston
Ferris State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value PR Schools list. Ferris State University is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 12 ’s PR degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $12,213 for PR students per year to attend Ferris.
Read more about Public Relations at Ferris
University of Akron Main Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value PR Schools list. Akron, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s PR degrees to 40 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $17,945 for PR students.
Full University of Akron Main Campus Public Relations Report
Appalachian State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value PR Schools ranking, coming in at #12. Appalachian State University is a public institution located in Boone, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 73 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,989 for PR students per year to attend Appalachian State University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Relations at Appalachian State University
Mississippi College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value PR Schools ranking. Located in Clinton, Mississippi, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 degrees to qualified ’s PR students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $18,190 for pr students per year to attend MC.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Relations at MC
Washington State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value PR Schools ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Pullman, Washington, this large public school awarded 106 diplomas to qualified ’s PR students in 2020-2021.
Wazzu did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Public Relations Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Wazzu is $15,300 for PR students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Relations at Washington State University
With a ranking of #15, Murray State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value PR Schools list. Located in Murray, Kentucky, this medium-sized public school handed out 24 degrees to qualified ’s PR students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Murray State is $11,736 for pr students.
Read more about Public Relations at Murray State
University of Georgia ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value PR Schools list. University of Georgia is located in Athens, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 132 ’s PR degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our pr students list, UGA has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Public Relations Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UGA is $14,257 for pr students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full University of Georgia Public Relations Report
Franklin University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value PR Schools ranking. Franklin University is a medium-sized school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 8 ’s PR degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Franklin University is $7,201 for PR students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Relations at Franklin University
Texas State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value PR Schools ranking. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s PR degrees to 201 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Texas State is $14,887 for PR students.
Full Texas State University Public Relations Report
Eastern Illinois University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value PR Schools list. EIU is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,098 for pr students per year to attend Eastern Illinois University.
Read more about Public Relations at EIU
Eastern Michigan University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value PR Schools ranking. This fairly large school is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and it awarded 28 ’s PR degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan University is $15,127 for PR students.
Full Eastern Michigan University Public Relations Report
With a ranking of #21, University of Memphis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value PR Schools list. University of Memphis is a large school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 32 ’s PR degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Memphis is $13,904 for PR students.
Read full report on Public Relations at University of Memphis
Lindenwood University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value PR Schools ranking. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified ’s PR students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $17,366 for PR students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Lindenwood University Public Relations Report
Georgia Southern University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value PR Schools ranking, coming in at #23. Statesboro, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s PR degrees to 43 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,571 for pr students per year to attend GaSou.
Full Georgia Southern University Public Relations Report
San Jose State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value PR Schools ranking, coming in at #24. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 38 diplomas to qualified ’s PR students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend San Jose State University is $16,542 for pr students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full San Jose State Public Relations Report
Webster University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value PR Schools list. Webster is a medium-sized school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 11 ’s PR degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Webster is $23,248 for PR students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Relations at Webster University
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