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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Public Relations & Advertising Schools in the The Plains States Region

19 Colleges in the United States
878 Public Relations & Advertising Degrees Awarded
$47,422 Avg Early-Career Salary

Public Relations & Advertising programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 80 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best public relations & advertising schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Public Relations & Advertising in the The Plains States Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the public relations & advertising degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Public Relations & Advertising

1

Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 school for public relations & advertising. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 190 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $56,395. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Get the full public relations & advertising details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities

2
University Of Kansas crest
University Of Kansas
Lawrence, KS

Students looking for a strong public relations & advertising program will find one at University Of Kansas, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $56,289. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. Get the full public relations & advertising details for University Of Kansas

3
Drake University crest
Drake University
Des Moines, IA

Drake University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. Drake University awarded about 29 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Drake University earn a median of $44,492 early in their careers. Drake University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Get the full public relations & advertising details for Drake University

4

University Of Nebraska Lincoln is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations & advertising, ranking #4. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Nebraska Lincoln awarded about 208 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn around $42,168 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Nebraska Lincoln graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. See the full public relations & advertising program report for University Of Nebraska Lincoln

5

Iowa State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in public relations & advertising, ranking #5. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 91 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Iowa State University earn around $42,530 in the first couple years of their career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Read more about the public relations & advertising program at Iowa State University

6

University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #6 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $65,183 in the first couple years of their career. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from University Of St Thomas Minnesota

7

University Of Northern Iowa earned the #7 position for public relations & advertising this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. About 23 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $43,755 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,096. Read more about the public relations & advertising program at University Of Northern Iowa

8

Minnesota State University Mankato placed #8 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $53,088. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete this degree. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Minnesota State University Mankato

9

Missouri State University Springfield ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 76 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $40,178 in the first couple years of their career. Missouri State University Springfield graduates carry a median of $23,329 in student loans. Read more about the public relations & advertising program at Missouri State University Springfield

10
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE

Bellevue University landed the #10 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at Bellevue University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Bellevue University generally make around $61,588. Students borrow a median of $27,852 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Bellevue University

11

Washburn University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. Washburn University graduates 44% of students within six years. Washburn University awarded about 12 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $50,955 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,175 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in public relations & advertising from Washburn University

12

North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #12 among the best public relations & advertising schools. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. North Dakota State University Main Campus awarded about 34 public relations & advertising degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $39,223 in their early career. North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full public relations & advertising program report for North Dakota State University Main Campus

13

Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $39,198 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,312 to complete this degree. Get the full public relations & advertising details for Minnesota State University Moorhead

14
Park University crest
Park University
Parkville, MO

Park University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best public relations & advertising schools. Set in the suburb of Parkville, Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 37% of students finish within six years. About 17 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Park University in the most recent year. Students who receive their public relations & advertising degree from Park University earn around $52,616 in the first couple years of their career. Park University graduates carry a median of $22,112 in student loans. Read more about the public relations & advertising program at Park University

15

Southeast Missouri State University earned the #15 position for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 42 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Southeast Missouri State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $40,127 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Southeast Missouri State University

16

University Of Central Missouri earned the #16 position for public relations & advertising this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 25 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent year. Graduates of the public relations & advertising program make about $39,401 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full public relations & advertising program report for University Of Central Missouri

17
Webster University crest
Webster University
Saint Louis, MO

Webster University came in at #17 for public relations & advertising this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 public relations & advertising degrees were awarded at Webster University in the most recent year. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of Webster University earn a median of $46,618 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,939. See the full public relations & advertising program report for Webster University

18

South Dakota State University landed the #18 spot for public relations & advertising this year. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 22 public relations & advertising students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $39,795. South Dakota State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the public relations & advertising program at South Dakota State University

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 80 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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