2026 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Public Relations & Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public relations & advertising education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 80 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 The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public relations & advertising, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools
For return on investment in public relations & advertising, no school beat Washburn University this year. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,945, with out-of-state students paying around $20,949. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $21,175. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Washburn University earn a median of $50,955 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the best values for public relations & advertising. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. 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. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $43,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations & advertising, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $56,395. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Southeast Missouri State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations & advertising, landing the #4 spot this year. 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. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $40,127. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kansas earned it the #5 place for public relations & advertising. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $56,289 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Park University came in at #6 for value in public relations & advertising this year. 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. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Park University generally make around $52,616. That is a strong return on a $22,112 median debt.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #7 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $42,168 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #8 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. 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.
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,910, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $39,223 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #10 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Set against $23,329 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University earned the #11 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $42,530. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Minnesota State University Moorhead landed the #12 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. In-state tuition and fees average $10,428. Students borrow a median of $22,312 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $39,198 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minnesota State University Moorhead admits about 59% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #13 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $25,260. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $53,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University came in at #14 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $27,000. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $39,795. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. South Dakota State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Webster University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,750. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $46,618. Set against $25,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Webster University admits about 86% of applicants.
Bellevue University came in at #16 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $12,873 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $27,852. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $61,588. Set against $27,852 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Drake University came in at #17 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. In-state tuition and fees average $51,960. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $44,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #18 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $23,923. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $65,183. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 80 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.
