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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication (Income $30-$48k)

73 Ranked Colleges
3,103 Degrees Awarded
$12,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor's For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 3,827 people earned their degree in public relations, advertising, and applied communication, making the major the 183rd most popular in the United States.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,103 public relations, advertising, and applied communication graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 73 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in public relations, advertising, and applied communication. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent public relations, advertising, and applied communication programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the public relations, advertising, and applied communication program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication (Income $30-$48k)

#1

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 73 schools in the Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Florida State University is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 109 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Florida State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Florida State is $6,816 for bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Florida State Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Report

#20 in overall quality

Out of the 73 schools in the Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida International University landed the #2 spot on the list. FIU is a large public school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 171 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees in 2019-2020.

FIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Florida International University is $6,683 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at FIU

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of South Florida - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k. USF Tampa is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 80 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus is $5,616 for bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at University of South Florida - Main Campus

#4

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Washington State University is located in Pullman, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 87 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees to qualified students.

Wazzu also took the #10 spot in our “Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Washington State University is $11,337 for bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at Washington State University

#5

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. River Falls, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - River Falls, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $10,124 for bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - River Falls.

The low 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, & Applied Communication at University of Wisconsin - River Falls

#5 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNL is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 188 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees to qualified students.

UNL also took the #5 spot in our “Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,508 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

The low student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full UNL Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Report

#7

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school handed out 152 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k list, GVSU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $12,459 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at Grand Valley State University

#4 in overall quality

University of Colorado Boulder did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, Colorado and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 368 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees to qualified students.

CU - Boulder also made our “Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for University of Colorado Boulder is $14,361 for bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, 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 more about Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at University of Colorado Boulder

#9

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 63 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $10,487 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ball State.

Read more about Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at Ball State University

#16 in overall quality

North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Fargo, North Dakota, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University is $12,544 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at North Dakota State University

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,114 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.

Read more about Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at UW Oshkosh

#12

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Oakland is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 16 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $7,751 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Oakland University Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Report

#13

Holy Family University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Holy Family University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Holy Family University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 7 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Holy Family University is $11,007 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at Holy Family University

#14

Rhode Island College

Providence, Rhode Island

Rhode Island College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Rhode Island College is located in Providence, Rhode Island and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for RIC is $8,961 for bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at RIC

#15

Central Connecticut State University

New Britain, Connecticut

Central Connecticut State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. New Britain, Connecticut is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend CCSU is $12,918 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at Central Connecticut State University

#16

Elon University

Elon, North Carolina
#1 in overall quality

Elon University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Elon, North Carolina, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 172 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication students in 2019-2020.

Elon also made our “Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for Elon is $24,969 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.

Full Elon University Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Report

#17

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #17, Saint Xavier University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,962 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SXU.

Read more about Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at SXU

Minnesota State University - Moorhead came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $12,279 for bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 MSU Moorhead Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Report

With a ranking of #19, University of Louisiana at Lafayette did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a fairly large school located in Lafayette, Louisiana that handed out 39 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Louisiana at Lafayette is $10,726 for bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

University of Central Oklahoma came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Edmond, Oklahoma is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees to 62 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,381 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UCO.

Read full report on Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at UCO

#21

St. Francis College

Brooklyn Heights, New York

With a ranking of #21, St. Francis College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. SFC is located in Brooklyn Heights, New York and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $18,535 for bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St. Francis College.

Full SFC Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Report

#22

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, Georgia
#19 in overall quality

Kennesaw State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. KSU Georgia is a public institution located in Kennesaw, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 140 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

KSU Georgia also made our “Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for KSU Georgia is $14,910 for bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at KSU Georgia

#23

Buffalo State

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo State ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Buffalo, New York, and it awarded 56 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Buffalo State is $12,123 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Buffalo State Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Report

#9 in overall quality

Ohio Northern University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Ada, Ohio, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees in 2019-2020.

ONU also took the #9 spot in our “Best Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio Northern University is $19,954 for bachelor’s degree public relations, advertising, and applied communication students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 more about Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at Ohio Northern University

#25

University of Pittsburgh - Bradford

Bradford, Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh - Bradford ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Bradford, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s public relations, advertising, and applied communication degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,476 for Bachelor’s Degree Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pitt Bradford.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication at Pitt Bradford

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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