2026 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Washington
[Public Relations](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public relations students.
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2026 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Washington
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public relations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Relations Schools
For return on investment in public relations, no school beat Washington State University this year. Located in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, with out-of-state students paying around $29,950. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $45,820. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
A rank of #2 makes Central Washington University one of the best values for public relations. Located in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,417, with out-of-state students paying around $27,526. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $23,342. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Central Washington University generally make around $40,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gonzaga University earned it the #3 place for public relations. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $55,480. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $26,000. Public Relations graduates of Gonzaga University earn a median of $39,013 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gonzaga University admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
