Best Value Public Relations Colleges in New York

Fashion Institute of Technology stands out among New York's Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication programs with remarkable career outcomes that justify its $22,024 net price. Despite being a public institution, FIT graduates earn $42,458 annually while carrying just $20,500 in debt, the lowest among all schools on this list. The 83.30% graduation rate further demonstrates the value proposition at this specialized institution. New York's advertising and PR industry, centered in Manhattan's agency corridor, provides unmatched internship and job opportunities for communications students. The state's program costs range dramatically from SUNY Fredonia's $15,644 net price to Syracuse University's $41,026, yet earnings vary by just $24,794 between the highest and lowest performers. Public SUNY schools dominate the most affordable options, with Plattsburgh, Fredonia, and Oswego all maintaining net costs below $18,000 while delivering solid graduate earnings in the mid-$30,000 range.

Programs

$3,830 – $58,628

Net Price Range

$38,156

Avg. Program Earnings

60.3%

Avg. Graduation Rate

28 Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	SUNY College at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh, New York	$16,547	$37,054	$8,881	58.8%	70.2%
2	SUNY at Fredonia Fredonia, New York	$15,644	$33,103	$8,771	53.5%	84.6%
3	State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, New York	$17,231	$35,213	$8,769	60.4%	82.6%
4	Fashion Institute of Technology New York, New York	$22,024	$42,458	$6,170	83.3%	52.8%
5	Mount Saint Mary College Newburgh, New York	$23,736	$38,289	$41,370	65.7%	88.3%
6	Manhattan College Riverdale, New York	$26,881	$42,682	$50,850	66.0%	82.3%
7	Long Island University Brookville, New York	$23,901	$36,848	$41,642	55.4%	92.7%
8	Utica University Utica, New York	$21,869	$32,210	$24,308	55.5%	80.9%
9	St. John's University-New York Queens, New York	$26,985	$37,699	$50,110	68.5%	84.7%
10	Pace University New York, New York	$31,046	$41,058	$51,424	61.4%	82.9%
11	Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, New York	$29,694	$38,289	$57,016	70.8%	67.2%
12	Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, New York	$15,770	$20,140	$22,106	48.1%	85.9%
13	Ithaca College Ithaca, New York	$32,965	$40,956	$50,510	74.1%	75.2%
14	Hofstra University Hempstead, New York	$35,129	$40,747	$55,450	67.1%	69.3%
15	Syracuse University Syracuse, New York	$41,026	$44,934	$63,061	81.4%	51.8%
16	School of Visual Arts New York, New York	$58,628	$48,823	$49,140	74.9%	87.4%
17	St Bonaventure University Saint Bonaventure, New York	$27,151		$40,150	70.4%	81.1%
18	State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, New York	$19,951		$8,815	68.2%	59.8%
19	SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, New York	$14,229		$8,486	36.0%	86.0%
20	SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica, New York	$13,882		$8,578	59.2%	81.7%
21	SUNY Morrisville Morrisville, New York	$17,393		$8,769	31.9%	87.2%
22	SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill Cobleskill, New York	$17,980		$8,676	40.9%	84.0%
23	St. Francis College Brooklyn, New York	$21,614		$27,570	52.3%	84.3%
24	Canisius University Buffalo, New York	$18,322		$32,720	70.7%	77.7%
25	New York Institute of Technology Old Westbury, New York	$20,709		$44,360	56.0%	75.7%
26	Marymount Manhattan College New York, New York	$37,037		$40,260	49.8%	72.1%
27	Hilbert College Hamburg, New York	$22,100		$32,150	47.0%	95.5%
28	CUNY Queens College Queens, New York	$3,830		$7,538	60.2%	69.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Fashion Institute of Technology such strong value for communications students?

FIT combines specialized industry focus with public school pricing at $22,024 net cost. Graduates earn $42,458 annually, the second-highest among all programs listed. The school maintains an 83.30% graduation rate, significantly above the state average. Its location in Manhattan provides direct access to major advertising agencies and PR firms.

How do SUNY schools compare for affordability in communications programs?

SUNY Fredonia offers the lowest net price at $15,644, followed closely by Plattsburgh at $16,547 and Oswego at $17,231. All three maintain in-state tuition below $8,900 annually. Graduates from these programs earn between $33,103 and $37,054, providing solid return on investment. Acceptance rates range from 70% to 85% across these SUNY options.

Does Syracuse University justify its high cost for communications students?

Syracuse charges $41,026 in net costs but delivers the highest graduate earnings at $44,934 annually. The program maintains an 81.40% graduation rate, among the best in the state. However, students carry $24,375 in average debt upon graduation. The school's 51.75% acceptance rate indicates selective admissions standards.

Where do communications graduates find the best debt-to-income ratios?

Fashion Institute of Technology leads with $20,500 average debt against $42,458 earnings, creating a favorable 48% debt-to-income ratio. SUNY Fredonia follows with $22,325 debt and $33,103 earnings for a 67% ratio. Ithaca College offers strong outcomes at $23,125 debt with $40,956 annual earnings. Most programs maintain debt levels between $20,000 and $27,000.

Is the high cost of living in New York worth it for communications students?

New York's media and advertising center status provides unmatched internship and entry-level opportunities despite high living costs. Fashion Institute graduates earning $42,458 can better navigate NYC expenses than SUNY graduates earning around $35,000. The state's TAP grant program helps reduce costs for in-state students. Many programs offer strong alumni networks within the city's communications industry.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.