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2026 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in Washington

[Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public relations, advertising, & applied communication education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public relations, advertising, & applied communication students.

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• Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in Washington

2026 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in Washington

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools

1

Washington State University
Pullman, WA

$13,391 In-State Tuition & Fees

$20,500 Avg Student Debt

$68,905 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Washington State University, our #1 best value for public relations, advertising, & applied communication in Washington. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $45,820 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.

2

Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA

$55,480 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,000 Avg Student Debt

$78,892 Median Earnings (10yr)

Gonzaga University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $55,480. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of Gonzaga University earn a median of $58,733 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Gonzaga University 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 · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.