2027 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Public Relations](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public relations education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public relations schools.
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2027 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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
Ferris State University earned the #1 spot for value among public relations schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $22,580. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $38,375. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis one of the best values for public relations. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $23,146 in student loans. Public Relations graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $56,930 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Eastern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $23,745 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $38,369. Set against $23,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
A rank of #4 makes Wayne State University one of the best values for public relations. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $41,306. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Akron Main Campus one of the best values for public relations. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $41,396. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Northern Michigan University placed #6 among the best values for public relations. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,322 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,944. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $22,608. Early-career public relations graduates make about $34,319. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Cleveland State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the public relations program here. Early-career public relations graduates make about $38,027. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #8 for value in public relations this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $24,755 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $41,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University landed the #9 spot for public relations value this year. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $27,000. Early-career public relations graduates make about $40,346. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Illinois State University placed #10 among the best values for public relations. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the public relations program here. Early-career public relations graduates make about $43,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #11 position for value in public relations this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $25,000. Public Relations graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $40,867 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in public relations this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,519 to complete the public relations program here. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $42,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Bradley University landed the #13 spot for public relations value this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. Students borrow a median of $26,819 to complete the public relations program here. Early-career public relations graduates make about $54,513. Set against $26,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in public relations this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $23,530. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Franklin University came in at #15 for value in public relations this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,577. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $42,017. Early-career public relations graduates make about $46,518. That is a strong return on a $42,017 median debt.
Columbia College Chicago placed #16 among the best values for public relations. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the public relations program here. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $39,794. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford landed the #17 spot for public relations value this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $25,000. Early-career public relations graduates make about $49,700. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Marquette University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations schools. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. In-state tuition and fees average $51,170. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Public Relations graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $40,583 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
