2026 Best Value Advertising Schools in Illinois
[Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/advertising/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for advertising students.
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2026 Best Value Advertising Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in advertising, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Advertising Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 best value for advertising in Illinois. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the advertising program here. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $54,763. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Bradley University one of the best values for advertising. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $26,819. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $54,513. That is a strong return on a $26,819 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Students looking for strong value in advertising will find it at Columbia College Chicago, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Advertising graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Advertising graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median of $39,794 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Loyola University Chicago earned it the #4 place for advertising. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $43,308. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
