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2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

56 Ranked Colleges
4,233 Degrees Awarded
$9,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Public Relations & Advertising is the 53rd most popular major in the country with 20,229 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, public relations and advertising graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,513 and had an average of $25,130 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 4,987 public relations and advertising graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,413 and $23,814 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,233 public relations and advertising graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 56 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in public relations and advertising. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public relations and advertising programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the public relations and advertising program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region bachelor’s degree public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Relations & Advertising (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

#1

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, Virginia
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington and Lee University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Washington and Lee is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lexington, Virginia. It awarded 21 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

Washington and Lee also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Washington and Lee University is $1,612 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Washington and Lee University Public Relations & Advertising Report

#2

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #2 spot on the list. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations degrees to 394 students in 2019-2020.

UF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $1,994 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UF.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Florida

#3

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida State University landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 109 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

Florida State also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Florida State is $5,360 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Full Florida State University Public Relations & Advertising Report

#4

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Georgia. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 348 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UGA, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Georgia is $7,541 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at University of Georgia

#17 in overall quality

Out of the 56 schools in the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida International University landed the #5 spot on the list. Florida International University is a large school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 171 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

FIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $5,002 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Florida International University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at FIU

University of Central Florida came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCF is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 132 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCF, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Florida is $6,211 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at UCF

#21 in overall quality

University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Tampa, Florida, this large public school awarded 80 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public relations students in 2019-2020.

USF Tampa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus is $3,950 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at USF Tampa

#8

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina

Appalachian State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Appalachian State is located in Boone, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 156 bachelors’s public relations degrees to qualified students.

Appalachian State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Appalachian State is $7,169 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Appalachian State University

#9

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Highland Heights, Kentucky is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for NKU is $4,156 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northern Kentucky University Public Relations & Advertising Report

#10

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina

With a ranking of #10, University of South Carolina - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, this large public school handed out 243 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public relations students in 2019-2020.

UofSC also took the #6 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of South Carolina - Columbia is $12,426 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at University of South Carolina - Columbia

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large school located in Knoxville, Tennessee that handed out 114 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree public relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Knoxville has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is $10,224 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Public Relations & Advertising Report

#12

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky

University of Kentucky came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Kentucky is a large public school situated in Lexington, Kentucky. It awarded 153 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

UK did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $11,848 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UK.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Kentucky

#13

Tulane University of Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

With a ranking of #13, Tulane University of Louisiana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. New Orleans, Louisiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public relations degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Tulane did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Tulane University of Louisiana is $23,968 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Tulane University of Louisiana

#14

Murray State University

Murray, Kentucky

Murray State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Murray State is a medium-sized public school situated in Murray, Kentucky. It awarded 79 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Murray State University is $8,839 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Murray State University

#15

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, Georgia

Georgia Southern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Statesboro, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations degrees to 87 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree public relations students whose families make $0-$30k list, GaSou has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Georgia Southern University is $12,378 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Georgia Southern University Public Relations & Advertising Report

University of Louisiana at Lafayette landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UL Lafayette is a fairly large public school situated in Lafayette, Louisiana. It awarded 52 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,621 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UL Lafayette.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

#17

University of Florida-Online

Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida-Online came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Florida-Online is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida. The school has a small population, and it awarded 52 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UF Online is $4,289 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at University of Florida-Online

#18

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, Georgia

Kennesaw State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. KSU Georgia is located in Kennesaw, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 210 bachelors’s public relations degrees to qualified students.

KSU Georgia also took the #16 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kennesaw State University is $13,975 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full KSU Georgia Public Relations & Advertising Report

#19

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Western Kentucky University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, this fairly large public school handed out 87 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public relations students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Western Kentucky University is $11,714 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Western Kentucky University

#20

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee

University of Memphis ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UofM is located in Memphis, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 42 bachelors’s public relations degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Memphis is $10,256 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Memphis

#21

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Alabama is a large public school situated in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It awarded 371 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

UA also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend The University of Alabama is $19,322 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full The University of Alabama Public Relations & Advertising Report

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this medium-sized public school awarded 33 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public relations students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,139 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Florida A&M University.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

#23

Harding University

Searcy, Arkansas

Harding University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Harding University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Searcy, Arkansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Harding also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for Harding University is $13,930 for southeast region bachelor’s degree public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Harding

Arkansas State University - Main Campus ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, this fairly large public school awarded 36 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public relations students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,948 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend A-State.

Full A-State Public Relations & Advertising Report

#25

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, Kentucky

Eastern Kentucky University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Richmond, Kentucky, this fairly large public school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public relations students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,397 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Eastern.

Full Eastern Public Relations & Advertising Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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