2027 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois
[Public Relations & Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public relations & advertising education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public relations & advertising students.
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2027 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public relations & advertising degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2027 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools in Illinois. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $23,250. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $54,763. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Illinois University earned it the #2 place for public relations & advertising. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,745 in student loans. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $38,369 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public relations & advertising will find it at Illinois State University, which ranked #3. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $43,874. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bradley University earned it the #4 place for public relations & advertising. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. Students borrow a median of $26,819 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $38,351. That is a strong return on a $26,819 median debt. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Columbia College Chicago one of the best values for public relations & advertising. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $39,794. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Illinois Media School earned the #6 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Media School is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $15,833 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Illinois Media School generally make around $21,902. That is a strong return on a $15,833 median debt.
Depaul University came in at #7 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $49,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #8 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $43,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
