2026 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Washington
[Public Relations & Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public relations & advertising education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public relations & advertising students.
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Featured Public Relations & Advertising Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
MA in Communication - Public Relations
Learn how to use the latest technology and tactics to manage the flow of information between brands and the public with your Master's in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations at Southern New Hampshire University.
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2026 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Washington
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public relations & advertising degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools
For return on investment in public relations & advertising, no school beat Washington State University this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Students from in state pay about $13,391 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $45,820. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Washington State University admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Central Washington University one of the best values for public relations & advertising. Set in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,417, compared with $27,526 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $23,342. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $40,976 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gonzaga University earned it the #3 place for public relations & advertising. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $55,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Gonzaga University generally make around $39,013. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Gonzaga University admits about 82% of applicants.
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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 · 9 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.
