2027 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Ohio
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for public relations students.
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2027 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public relations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Relations Schools
Leading the list is University Of Akron Main Campus, our #1 best value for public relations in Ohio. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public relations program here. Public Relations graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $41,396 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Cleveland State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, landing the #2 spot this year. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $26,750. Early-career public relations graduates make about $38,027. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Kent State University At Kent one of the best values for public relations. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. 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. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Bowling Green State University Main Campus one of the best values for public relations. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $22,519 in student loans. Early-career public relations graduates make about $42,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Cincinnati Main Campus one of the best values for public relations. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $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 placed #6 among the best values for public relations. Located in the city of Columbus, Franklin University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,577 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $42,017. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Franklin University generally make around $46,518. That is a strong return on a $42,017 median debt.
Miami University Oxford landed the #7 spot for public relations value this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $49,700. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
