2026 Best Value Advertising Schools in the The Plains States Region

[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.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value advertising schools.
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2026 Best Value Advertising Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the advertising degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Advertising Schools
North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among advertising schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the advertising program here. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $39,223. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Iowa State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in advertising, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Advertising graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $42,530. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in advertising will find it at South Dakota State University, which ranked #3. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Advertising graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career advertising graduates make about $39,795. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Webster University one of the best values for advertising. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,750. Typical student debt for advertising graduates is $25,939. Early-career advertising graduates make about $46,618. That is a strong return on a $25,939 median debt. Webster University admits about 86% of applicants.
Drake University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value advertising schools. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the advertising program here. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $44,492. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Drake University admits about 64% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota placed #6 among the best values for advertising. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans. Soon after graduation, advertising degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,183. Set against $23,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.