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2023 Best Value Colleges for Public Relations & Advertising in the Plains States Region

28 Ranked Colleges
1,308 Degrees Awarded
$18,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Public Relations & Advertising is the 52nd most popular major in the country with 21,099 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, public relations and advertising graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $38,287 and had an average of $23,973 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,308 public relations and advertising graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,683 and $24,198 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 28 colleges that offer a degree in public relations and advertising. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality public relations and advertising programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the public relations and advertising program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Public Relations & Advertising Schools

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region public relations students.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Public Relations & Advertising in the Plains States Region

1
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, South Dakota State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 24 degrees to qualified ’s public relations students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Dakota State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,578 for Plains States Region Public Relations students per year to attend South Dakota State.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 full report on Public Relations & Advertising at South Dakota State University

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s public relations degrees to qualified students.

North Dakota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,998 for Plains States Region Public Relations students per year to attend North Dakota State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

3
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, Nebraska

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bellevue University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region. Bellevue University is a fairly large school located in Bellevue, Nebraska that handed out 58 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Bellevue University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Bellevue University is $17,288 for Plains States Region Public Relations students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Bellevue University

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Iowa State University is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 135 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region public relations students list, Iowa State has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,002 for Plains States Region Public Relations students per year to attend Iowa State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Iowa State

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Missouri State University - Springfield. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region. Missouri State is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 72 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region public relations students list, Missouri State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $16,718 for Plains States Region Public Relations students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Missouri State

6

University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school handed out 262 diplomas to qualified ’s public relations students in 2020-2021.

UNL also took the #1 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $17,013 for Plains States Region Public Relations students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

7

University of Northern Iowa landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 41 degrees to qualified ’s public relations students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNI is $16,438 for plains states region public relations students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Northern Iowa Public Relations & Advertising Report

8
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Missouri State University is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 69 ’s public relations degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Missouri State University, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $13,568 for plains states region public relations students.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Southeast Missouri State University

9
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 27 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lindenwood University, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,366 for Plains States Region Public Relations students per year to attend Lindenwood University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lindenwood University Public Relations & Advertising Report

10

Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. MSU Moorhead is a public institution located in Moorhead, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

MSU Moorhead also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $17,680 for plains states region public relations students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 Minnesota State University - Moorhead

11

With a ranking of #11, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school awarded 83 degrees to qualified ’s public relations students in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $17,878 for Plains States Region Public Relations students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at UMN Twin Cities

12

With a ranking of #12, Northwest Missouri State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Maryville, Missouri, and it awarded 2 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Northwest not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwest is $12,925 for Plains States Region Public Relations students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Northwest Missouri State University

13
Webster crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Webster University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 47 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region public relations students list, Webster has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Webster University is $23,248 for Plains States Region Public Relations students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Webster

14

Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #14. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a medium-sized school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 15 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Concordia University, Saint Paul also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. It costs about $15,880 for plains states region public relations students per year to attend Concordia University, Saint Paul.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Full Concordia University, Saint Paul Public Relations & Advertising Report

15
UCM crest
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. UCM is a fairly large school located in Warrensburg, Missouri that handed out 15 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region public relations students list, UCM has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCM is $14,058 for Plains States Region Public Relations students.

Full UCM Public Relations & Advertising Report

16

With a ranking of #16, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Wichita State University is a fairly large public school situated in Wichita, Kansas. It awarded 19 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

WSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,859 for Plains States Region Public Relations students per year to attend Wichita State University.

Full WSU Public Relations & Advertising Report

17
Washburn University crest
Washburn University
Topeka, Kansas

Washburn University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Washburn University is $14,339 for plains states region public relations students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Washburn University

18
Missouri Western crest
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri Western State University is a public institution located in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,897 for Plains States Region Public Relations students per year to attend Missouri Western.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Missouri Western State University

19
Evangel crest
Evangel University
Springfield, Missouri

Evangel University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Evangel University is a small school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 9 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Evangel not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Evangel University is $23,719 for Plains States Region Public Relations students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Evangel Public Relations & Advertising Report

20
BHSU crest
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota

Black Hills State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Spearfish, South Dakota, and it awarded 3 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,961 for plains states region public relations students per year to attend Black Hills State University.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Black Hills State University

21

Saint Ambrose University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Davenport, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified ’s public relations students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region public relations students list, St. Ambrose University has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Ambrose University is $26,292 for plains states region public relations students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at St. Ambrose University

22

Culver - Stockton College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Culver - Stockton College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Canton, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Culver - Stockton also took the #23 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Culver - Stockton is $21,278 for Plains States Region Public Relations students.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Culver - Stockton College

23
Loras crest
Loras College
Dubuque, Iowa

Loras College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region list. Loras College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Loras did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Loras is $21,629 for Plains States Region Public Relations students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Loras

24

Nebraska Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #24. NWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

NWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for NWU is $26,295 for plains states region public relations students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 Nebraska Wesleyan University

25
Drake crest
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Drake is a small school located in Des Moines, Iowa that handed out 55 ’s public relations degrees in 2020-2021.

Drake not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $29,903 for plains states region public relations students per year to attend Drake University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Drake

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