by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study public relations, advertising, and applied communication, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 209 programs that serve veteran public relations, advertising, and applied communication students especially well, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best public relations, advertising, and applied communication colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Learn more about these veteran-friendly public relations, advertising, and applied communication colleges below:
Leading the list is University of Nebraska-Lincoln, our #1 public relations, advertising, and applied communication college for veterans. University of Nebraska-Lincoln scores 91.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the public relations, advertising, and applied communication program at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
A rank of #2 makes University of Delaware one of the top public relations, advertising, and applied communication colleges for veteran students. University of Delaware scores 91.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the public relations, advertising, and applied communication program at University of Delaware
University of Georgia came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, and applied communication colleges for veterans. It scores 89.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full public relations, advertising, and applied communication report for University of Georgia
Veteran students seeking a strong public relations, advertising, and applied communication program will find one at University of South Florida, which ranked #4. It scores 89.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full public relations, advertising, and applied communication report for University of South Florida
Veteran students seeking a strong public relations, advertising, and applied communication program will find one at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, which ranked #5. It scores 88.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
Read more about public relations, advertising, and applied communication at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
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San Diego State University landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing public relations, advertising, and applied communication. The school's overall veterans score is 87.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full public relations, advertising, and applied communication report for San Diego State University
California State University-Long Beach placed #7 among the best public relations, advertising, and applied communication colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 86.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about public relations, advertising, and applied communication at California State University-Long Beach
University of Florida ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, and applied communication colleges for veterans. University of Florida scores 86.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the public relations, advertising, and applied communication program at University of Florida
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus came in at #9 for veteran public relations, advertising, and applied communication students this year. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus scores 85.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the public relations, advertising, and applied communication program at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Western Michigan University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, and applied communication colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.4 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0.
See the full public relations, advertising, and applied communication report for Western Michigan University
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Franklin University came in at #11 for veteran public relations, advertising, and applied communication students this year. It scores 85.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full public relations, advertising, and applied communication report for Franklin University
University of Arkansas came in at #12 for veteran public relations, advertising, and applied communication students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the public relations, advertising, and applied communication program at University of Arkansas
State University of New York at Oswego ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, and applied communication colleges for veterans. State University of New York at Oswego scores 84.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about public relations, advertising, and applied communication at State University of New York at Oswego
Texas Tech University landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing public relations, advertising, and applied communication. It scores 84.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the public relations, advertising, and applied communication program at Texas Tech University
University of Kentucky placed #15 among the best public relations, advertising, and applied communication colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score.
See the full public relations, advertising, and applied communication report for University of Kentucky
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Boise State University landed the #16 spot for veterans pursuing public relations, advertising, and applied communication. The school's overall veterans score is 84.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full public relations, advertising, and applied communication report for Boise State University
University of Central Florida landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing public relations, advertising, and applied communication. University of Central Florida scores 84.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full public relations, advertising, and applied communication report for University of Central Florida
University of Maryland Global Campus landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing public relations, advertising, and applied communication. University of Maryland Global Campus scores 84.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the public relations, advertising, and applied communication program at University of Maryland Global Campus
Iowa State University landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing public relations, advertising, and applied communication. Iowa State University scores 84.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the public relations, advertising, and applied communication program at Iowa State University
Ohio University-Main Campus landed the #20 spot for veterans pursuing public relations, advertising, and applied communication. The school's overall veterans score is 84.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full public relations, advertising, and applied communication report for Ohio University-Main Campus
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Washington State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, and applied communication colleges for veterans. It scores 84.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the public relations, advertising, and applied communication program at Washington State University
University of Southern Indiana landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing public relations, advertising, and applied communication. The school's overall veterans score is 83.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about public relations, advertising, and applied communication at University of Southern Indiana
Miami University-Oxford came in at #23 for veteran public relations, advertising, and applied communication students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 83.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the public relations, advertising, and applied communication program at Miami University-Oxford
Arkansas State University landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing public relations, advertising, and applied communication. Arkansas State University scores 83.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full public relations, advertising, and applied communication report for Arkansas State University
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best public relations, advertising, and applied communication colleges for veterans. It scores 83.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about public relations, advertising, and applied communication at Southern New Hampshire University
These public relations, advertising, and applied communication colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying public relations, advertising, and applied communication: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
