by our College Data Analytics Team
[Public Relations & Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 605 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public relations & advertising schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public relations & advertising degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in public relations & advertising, no school beat Santa Monica College this year. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
Students looking for strong value in public relations & advertising will find it at Sinclair Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in public relations & advertising will find it at El Paso Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $8,542. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $12,000. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $21,006 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Explore the best-value public relations & advertising schools at other degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 605 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.