2027 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Iowa
[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 3 schools to find the best return on investment for public relations students.
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2027 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public relations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Relations Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Northern Iowa the best value for a degree in public relations in Iowa. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Students borrow a median of $21,096 to complete the public relations program here. Public Relations graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $43,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Iowa State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $24,750. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $42,530. That is a strong return on a $24,750 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public relations will find it at Drake University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,960. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $44,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Drake University admits about 64% of applicants.
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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 · 3 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.
