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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Relations & Advertising in the Great Lakes Region

63 Ranked Colleges
3,035 Degrees Awarded
$16,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

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 Great Lakes region, there were 3,438 public relations and advertising graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,487 and $24,787 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,035 public relations and advertising graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 63 colleges that offered a degree in public relations and advertising. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great public relations and advertising programs and 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Public Relations & Advertising Schools

The public relations school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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 Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Relations & Advertising in the Great Lakes Region

#1

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 63 schools in the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #1 spot on the list. River Falls, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students list, UW - River Falls has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $13,748 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Public Relations & Advertising Report

#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 48 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $16,020 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at UW - Eau Claire

#3

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Grand Valley State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. GVSU is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 152 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

GVSU also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $17,646 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 GVSU

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 20 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,463 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students per year to attend UW Oshkosh.

Full University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Public Relations & Advertising Report

#5

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Michigan University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. Kalamazoo, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations degrees to 104 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,433 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students per year to attend WMU.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Western Michigan University

#6

Franklin University

Columbus, Ohio

Franklin University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Franklin University is $12,895 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Franklin University

#7

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 80 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $20,895 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Illinois State

#8

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Ferris State University is a fairly large public school situated in Big Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 28 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,889 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students per year to attend Ferris.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Ferris

#9

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Eastern Illinois University is $14,607 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Eastern Illinois University

#10

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Central Michigan is a public institution located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 117 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan also took the #20 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan University is $15,981 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

Full Central Michigan University Public Relations & Advertising Report

#11

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio

With a ranking of #11, Cleveland State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Cleveland State University is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 119 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland State University is $17,278 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Cleveland State University

#12

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, Michigan

Northern Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s public relations degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Northern Michigan University is $15,453 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Northern Michigan University

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is $18,394 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

Kent State University at Kent ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations degrees to 64 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Kent State is $18,885 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Kent State

#15

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Eastern Michigan is $15,924 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Eastern Michigan

#16

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Southern Indiana is a fairly large school located in Evansville, Indiana that handed out 31 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,437 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students per year to attend University of Southern Indiana.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at University of Southern Indiana

University of Akron Main Campus came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Akron, Ohio. It awarded 48 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $17,792 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at University of Akron Main Campus

#18

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school situated in Youngstown, Ohio. It awarded 10 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $11,947 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Youngstown State University

#19

Ashland University

Ashland, Ohio

With a ranking of #19, Ashland University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Ashland is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ashland, Ohio. It awarded 9 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Ashland University is $20,111 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Ashland

#20

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

With a ranking of #20, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations degrees to 94 students in 2019-2020.

Ball State also took the #21 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,147 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students per year to attend Ball State University.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Ball State University

With a ranking of #21, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 245 degrees to qualified bachelors’s public relations students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students list, UIUC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $15,880 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UIUC Public Relations & Advertising Report

#22

Northwood University

Midland, Michigan

Northwood University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. Northwood University is located in Midland, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s public relations degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students list, Northwood has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwood is $21,618 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Northwood University Public Relations & Advertising Report

#23

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Oakland is a public institution located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $11,802 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Oakland University

#24

Siena Heights University

Adrian, Michigan

Siena Heights University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Adrian, Michigan, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Siena Heights University is $21,249 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students.

Full Siena Heights University Public Relations & Advertising Report

Ohio Northern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. This small school is located in Ada, Ohio, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.

ONU also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio Northern University is $24,072 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree public relations students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at ONU

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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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