2026 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois
[Public Relations & Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for public relations & advertising students.
What’s on this page:
ADVERTISEMENTS
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.
Learn More
2026 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public relations & advertising, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2026 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $54,763. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public relations & advertising, landing the #2 spot this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,745 in student loans. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $38,369. That is a strong return on a $23,745 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in public relations & advertising will find it at Illinois State University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $43,874 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bradley University earned it the #4 place for public relations & advertising. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Students borrow a median of $26,819 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $38,351 early in their careers. Set against $26,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbia College Chicago earned it the #5 place for public relations & advertising. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,088 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $26,000. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $39,794. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University earned the #6 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $49,559. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $43,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
More Public Relations & Advertising Rankings
View All Public Relations & Advertising Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
