2026 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in New York
[Public Relations & Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 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 New York
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 Cuny Queens College this year. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Students borrow a median of $12,157 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $41,847. That is a strong return on a $12,157 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Stony Brook University one of the best values for public relations & advertising. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,931, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Set against $20,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 49%.
A rank of #3 makes Suny At Fredonia one of the best values for public relations & advertising. Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fredonia. In-state tuition and fees average $8,831, with out-of-state students paying around $19,771. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $23,450. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Suny At Fredonia earn a median of $33,126 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny College At Oswego earned it the #4 place for public relations & advertising. Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oswego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,825, compared with $18,735 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $26,000. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $37,203. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Suny College At Buffalo came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,533, compared with $19,653 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $25,257. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Suny College At Buffalo generally make around $39,412. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #6 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $23,258. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Canisius College came in at #7 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Canisius College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,200. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $24,673. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $42,672. Set against $24,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Fashion Institute Of Technology placed #8 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,174 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,696. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $28,928. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
St Johns University New York ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,529. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $26,848. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of $43,585 early in their careers. Set against $26,848 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Saint Bonaventure University earned the #10 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. Located in the town of Saint Bonaventure, Saint Bonaventure University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,735. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $25,917. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $43,190. Set against $25,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Iona College placed #11 among the best values for public relations & advertising. Set in the suburb of New Rochelle, Iona College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,260 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,745 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Iona College generally make around $51,530. That is a strong return on a $25,745 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York came in at #12 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $53,510 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $44,485. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Siena College earned the #13 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Loudonville. In-state tuition and fees average $45,805. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $26,656. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $44,535. That is a strong return on a $26,656 median debt. Siena College admits about 69% of applicants.
Ithaca College landed the #14 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $52,616 in tuition and fees. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $39,446. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Hofstra University landed the #15 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,660. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of $49,280 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Marist College landed the #16 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,620. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Marist College earn a median of $70,802 early in their careers. Set against $25,962 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Syracuse University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $26,000. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $58,798 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
School Of Visual Arts earned the #18 position for value in public relations & advertising this year. School Of Visual Arts is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $51,400. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of School Of Visual Arts earn a median of $91,346 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
