2026 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Southwest Region
[Public Relations & Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 47 schools to find the best return on investment for public relations & advertising students.
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2026 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public relations & advertising, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools
Leading the list is El Paso Community College, our #1 best value for public relations & advertising in the Southwest Region. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arizona State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $20,847 in student loans. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $43,692 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,847 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At El Paso one of the best values for public relations & advertising. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, while out-of-state students pay about $25,502. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $22,000. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $33,280 early in their careers. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
University Of Houston came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,800 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $42,472. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Students looking for strong value in public relations & advertising will find it at University Of North Texas, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Students borrow a median of $21,817 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $49,157 early in their careers. Set against $21,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Northern Arizona University landed the #6 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $21,625 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $36,920. Set against $21,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #7 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $22,062 in student loans. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $34,752 early in their careers. Set against $22,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #8 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,797, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $20,718 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $45,759. That is a strong return on a $20,718 median debt. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus admits about 77% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #9 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $21,764. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $40,411. That is a strong return on a $21,764 median debt. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $20,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $51,267. Set against $20,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Canadian Valley Technology Center came in at #11 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Located in the rural area of El Reno, Canadian Valley Technology Center is a mid-sized public university. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $46,777.
Texas Tech University came in at #12 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $50,074. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Oklahoma placed #13 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,818, while out-of-state students pay about $19,704. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $36,388. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Grand Canyon University landed the #14 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,508. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $25,100. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $37,307 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
Oral Roberts University came in at #15 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,470. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $28,022. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Oral Roberts University earn a median of $41,180 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,022 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
East Texas Baptist University placed #16 among the best values for public relations & advertising. East Texas Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marshall. In-state tuition and fees average $30,680. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $25,137. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $44,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. East Texas Baptist University admits about 58% of applicants.
Texas Christian University landed the #17 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,740 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,148 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $48,053. That is a strong return on a $24,148 median debt. The acceptance rate is 44%.
Southern Methodist University landed the #18 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $51,828 early in their careers. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
