2026 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Iowa
[Public Relations & Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public relations & advertising schools.
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2026 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Iowa
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 Northern Iowa tops our 2026 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools in Iowa. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,096 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa State University earned it the #2 place for public relations & advertising. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $42,530 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Drake University one of the best values for public relations & advertising. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $44,492. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Drake University admits about 64% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
