2027 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Public Relations & Advertising is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 43 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for public relations & advertising students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Public Relations & Advertising in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall public relations & advertising education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Public Relations & Advertising
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best school in the country for a degree in public relations & advertising. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 135 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University Of Wisconsin Madison
Ohio State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public relations & advertising, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $58,088 early in their careers. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in public relations & advertising, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 227 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $54,763 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
See the full public relations & advertising program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Miami University Oxford came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Miami University Oxford is a very large public school located in the town of Oxford. About 80% of students finish within six years. Miami University Oxford awarded about 150 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $50,700. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations & advertising, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 69 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $58,659 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University came in at #6 for public relations & advertising this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 48 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $43,874. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #7 for public relations & advertising this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 81 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $43,308 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Loyola University Chicago
Michigan State University placed #8 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 629 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $45,158. Typical student debt for the program is $23,899.
See the full public relations & advertising program report for Michigan State University
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #9 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates 63% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater awarded about 14 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $45,767. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $25,306 in student loans.
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Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for public relations & advertising this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates 61% of students within six years. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 28 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $42,296 in the first couple years of their career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,519 in student loans.
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Marquette University landed the #11 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Marquette University awarded about 76 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $40,583. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full public relations & advertising program report for Marquette University
Depaul University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 125 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Depaul University earn around $49,559 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500.
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University Of Michigan Dearborn earned the #13 position for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 15 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Dearborn in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $62,536 in their early career. University Of Michigan Dearborn graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire placed #14 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 20 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $49,911 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #15 among the best public relations & advertising schools. This large public university is located in the city of Oshkosh. About 54% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh awarded about 50 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $46,039. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
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Marietta College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the town of Marietta, Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Marietta College awarded about 13 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Marietta College earn around $79,641 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Butler University placed #17 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. Butler University awarded about 113 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $39,701. Butler University graduates carry a median of $26,176 in student loans.
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Ball State University placed #18 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. Ball State University awarded about 60 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $38,020 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,879 to complete this degree.
See the full public relations & advertising program report for Ball State University
Kent State University At Kent ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 57 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $40,867. Kent State University At Kent graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full public relations & advertising program report for Kent State University At Kent
University Of Wisconsin River Falls landed the #20 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 37 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin River Falls in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn around $47,577 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin River Falls graduates carry a median of $24,245 in student loans.
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Eastern Illinois University landed the #21 spot for public relations & advertising this year. This large public university is located in the town of Charleston. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 14 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $38,369 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,745 to complete this degree.
See the full public relations & advertising program report for Eastern Illinois University
Ohio University Main Campus placed #22 among the best public relations & advertising schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 45 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $49,736 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Ohio University Main Campus
Western Michigan University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Western Michigan University earn around $37,718 in the first couple years of their career. Western Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full public relations & advertising program report for Western Michigan University
Grand Valley State University landed the #24 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 116 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Grand Valley State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $38,172 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,377.
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Central Michigan University landed the #25 spot for public relations & advertising this year. This large public university is located in the town of Mount Pleasant. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 26 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Central Michigan University in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $40,346 early in their careers. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Central Michigan University
Rest of the Top 43 Public Relations & Advertising Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong public relations & advertising education:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 43 schools evaluated.
- 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.