2022 Best Value Colleges for Public Relations & Advertising (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Public Relations & Advertising is the 53rd most popular major in the country with 20,229 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, public relations and advertising graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,513 and had an average of $25,130 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 953 public relations and advertising graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,467 and $24,558 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 16 Best Value Colleges for Public Relations & Advertising (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 50 ’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern is $1,866 for Illinois Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Northwestern University
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 269 ’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $5,477 for illinois public relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school handed out 80 degrees to qualified ’s public relations students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $14,470 for Illinois Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 at Illinois State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Illinois University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 15 ’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.
EIU also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend EIU is $12,350 for illinois public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Eastern Illinois University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Xavier University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Saint Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SXU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $11,266 for Illinois Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SXU.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Saint Xavier University
With a ranking of #6, Bradley University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Peoria, Illinois, and it awarded 69 ’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.
Bradley also took the #4 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $17,205 for illinois public relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bradley University.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Bradley University
With a ranking of #7, Monmouth College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Monmouth College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Monmouth, Illinois. It awarded 7 ’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.
Monmouth also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Monmouth College is $13,231 for illinois public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
With a ranking of #8, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Elmhurst, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public relations degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.
Elmhurst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst is $16,903 for Illinois Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Elmhurst
Dominican University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Dominican University is located in River Forest, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 ’s public relations degrees to qualified students.
Dominican U also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Dominican University is $17,060 for illinois public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Dominican University
North Central College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Central is located in Naperville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 ’s public relations degrees to qualified students.
North Central also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for North Central College is $18,889 for Illinois Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low 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%.
Full North Central College Public Relations & Advertising Report
Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and it awarded 11 ’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.
Olivet Nazarene also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene University is $15,806 for illinois public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Olivet Nazarene University
Trinity Christian College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Palos Heights, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s public relations degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Trinity Christian, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Trinity Christian College is $16,611 for illinois public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at Trinity Christian
North Park University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. North Park is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 ’s public relations degrees to qualified students.
North Park also took the #16 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Park University is $17,808 for illinois public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Public Relations & Advertising at North Park University
With a ranking of #14, Columbia College Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified ’s public relations students in 2019-2020.
Columbia also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia is $27,120 for illinois public relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 227 diplomas to qualified ’s public relations students in 2019-2020.
DePaul also took the #7 spot in our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul University is $26,173 for Illinois Public Relations students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 more about Public Relations & Advertising at DePaul University
Loyola University Chicago ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Public Relations Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 121 ’s public relations degrees in 2019-2020.
Loyola Chicago also made our “Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $29,440 for illinois public relations students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Loyola Chicago.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Public Relations & Advertising at Loyola University Chicago
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Bill Koplitz.
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