2026 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in Colorado
[Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations-advertising-and-applied-communication/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public relations, advertising, & applied communication students.
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2026 Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication Schools in Colorado
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
Leading the list is Metropolitan State College Of Denver, our #1 best value for public relations, advertising, & applied communication in Colorado. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $30,875. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $32,601. Set against $30,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations, advertising, & applied communication schools. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Early-career public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates make about $51,693. Set against $22,843 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in public relations, advertising, & applied communication will find it at University Of Colorado Boulder, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,214 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Students borrow a median of $19,433 to complete the public relations, advertising, & applied communication program here. Public Relations, Advertising, & Applied Communication graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $66,246 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Colorado Christian University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, advertising, & applied communication, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,846. Typical student debt for public relations, advertising, & applied communication graduates is $36,092. Soon after graduation, public relations, advertising, & applied communication degree recipients from Colorado Christian University generally make around $47,333. That is a strong return on a $36,092 median debt.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
