2027 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the The Plains States 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.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public relations & advertising schools.
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2027 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the The Plains States Region
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 Minnesota Twin Cities tops our 2027 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $56,395. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Northern Iowa is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations & advertising, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $21,096 in student loans. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $43,755 early in their careers. Set against $21,096 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Central Missouri one of the best values for public relations & advertising. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $39,401 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public relations & advertising will find it at North Dakota State University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $39,223. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeast Missouri State University earned it the #5 place for public relations & advertising. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,903. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University generally make around $40,127. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $23,258. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $42,168. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #7 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $23,329 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $40,178. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Bellevue University came in at #8 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,873. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $27,852 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $61,588. That is a strong return on a $27,852 median debt.
University Of North Dakota landed the #9 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Students borrow a median of $25,110 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $64,378. Set against $25,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Dakota admits about 77% of applicants.
Iowa State University placed #10 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $42,530. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #11 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $25,260 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $53,088. That is a strong return on a $25,260 median debt. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Kansas State University came in at #12 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $51,543. Set against $23,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University placed #13 among the best values for public relations & advertising. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $39,795. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Lindenwood University earned the #14 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,600. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $27,000. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $32,000 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Park University placed #15 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Set in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,116. Students borrow a median of $22,112 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $52,616. That is a strong return on a $22,112 median debt.
University Of Sioux Falls earned the #16 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. University Of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux Falls. In-state tuition and fees average $21,750. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $26,103. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Sioux Falls generally make around $46,956. Set against $26,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Simpson College placed #17 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Located in the town of Indianola, Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,656. Students borrow a median of $26,816 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Simpson College generally make around $41,925. That is a strong return on a $26,816 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Hastings College placed #18 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Located in the town of Hastings, Hastings College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,770. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Hastings College earn a median of $42,417 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Drake University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $23,250. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $44,492. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Drake University admits about 64% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.