2026 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Public Relations](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/public-relations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public relations education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public relations students.
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2026 Best Value Public Relations Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public relations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Relations Schools
For return on investment in public relations, no school beat University Of Northern Iowa this year. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $21,096 in student loans. Early-career public relations graduates make about $43,755. That is a strong return on a $21,096 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned it the #2 place for public relations. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Public Relations graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $42,168 early in their careers. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Central Missouri came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations schools. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Typical student debt for public relations graduates is $26,000. Public Relations graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $39,401 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Central Missouri admits about 64% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $23,329 in student loans. Public Relations graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $40,178 early in their careers. Set against $23,329 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Iowa State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete the public relations program here. Soon after graduation, public relations degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $42,530. That is a strong return on a $24,750 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota State University placed #6 among the best values for public relations. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, with out-of-state students paying around $12,809. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career public relations graduates make about $39,795. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Webster University landed the #7 spot for public relations value this year. Webster University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,750. Public Relations graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans. Public Relations graduates of Webster University earn a median of $46,618 early in their careers. Set against $25,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Drake University landed the #8 spot for public relations value this year. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the public relations program here. Early-career public relations graduates make about $44,492. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
