2027 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Public Relations](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public relations education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public relations students.
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2027 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public relations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Relations Schools
For return on investment in public relations, no school beat Kean University this year. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,299, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $26,703. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Kean University generally make around $48,705. Set against $26,703 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kean University admits about 76% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny College At Oswego earned it the #2 place for public relations. Located in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,825, with out-of-state students paying around $18,735. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the public relations program here. Early-career public relations graduates make about $37,203. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Suny At Fredonia came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations schools. Located in the town of Fredonia, Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,831, with out-of-state students paying around $19,771. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $23,450 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Suny At Fredonia generally make around $33,126. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Fredonia admits about 78% of applicants.
Mercy College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, landing the #4 spot this year. Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,880. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $28,304 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Mercy College generally make around $61,432. Set against $28,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Suny College At Plattsburgh came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations schools. Located in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,035, while out-of-state students pay about $18,945. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $24,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Suny College At Plattsburgh generally make around $40,143. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Plattsburgh admits about 78% of applicants.
Morgan State University placed #6 among the best values for public relations. Located in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,229 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,124 for out-of-state students. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $31,875 in student loans. Early-career public relations graduates make about $28,091. Set against $31,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #7 among the best values for public relations. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Students from in state pay about $15,356 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $24,693. Early-career public relations graduates make about $50,587. That is a strong return on a $24,693 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland University College landed the #8 spot for public relations value this year. University Of Maryland University College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. In-state tuition and fees average $8,136, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $23,276 in student loans. Public Relations graduates of University Of Maryland University College earn a median of $65,890 early in their careers. Set against $23,276 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hood College came in at #9 for value in public relations this year. Located in the city of Frederick, Hood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,700. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $24,703 in student loans. Early-career public relations graduates make about $59,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Rowan University came in at #10 for value in public relations this year. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,574, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $23,125. Public Relations graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $35,116 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Rider University earned the #11 position for value in public relations this year. Located in the suburb of Lawrenceville, Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $41,120 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public relations program here. Early-career public relations graduates make about $45,962. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Temple University placed #12 among the best values for public relations. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $26,000. Public Relations graduates of Temple University earn a median of $41,165 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Point Park University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,570 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,850 to complete the public relations program here. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Point Park University generally make around $32,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Point Park University admits about 97% of applicants.
Susquehanna University came in at #14 for value in public relations this year. Susquehanna University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Selinsgrove. In-state tuition and fees average $59,850. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $27,000. Public Relations graduates of Susquehanna University earn a median of $39,097 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Susquehanna University admits about 81% of applicants.
Iona College earned the #15 position for value in public relations this year. Iona College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of New Rochelle. Students from in state pay about $47,260 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $25,745. Public Relations graduates of Iona College earn a median of $51,530 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Hofstra University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations schools. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,660. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Early-career public relations graduates make about $49,280. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
George Washington University placed #17 among the best values for public relations. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the public relations program here. Public Relations graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $73,569 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
Syracuse University landed the #18 spot for public relations value this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the public relations program here. Public Relations graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $58,798 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Georgetown University earned the #19 position for value in public relations this year. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,089. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $16,483. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $91,362. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 13%.
American University landed the #20 spot for public relations value this year. Set in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,771 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,442 to complete the public relations program here. Early-career public relations graduates make about $56,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
