Best Value Public Relations Colleges in Ohio

Franklin University stands out among Ohio's Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication programs with an unusual tuition structure of just $9,577 for its listed in-state rate, yet graduates earn $42,682 annually. This earnings figure ranks fourth highest among the state's 15 programs, creating an interesting value proposition despite the school's 30.3% graduation rate. Ohio's communication graduates enter a job market shaped by major healthcare systems like Cleveland Clinic and manufacturing giants like Honda, where corporate communication roles span everything from crisis management to brand development. The earnings gap between programs is substantial, ranging from $28,598 at Ashland University to $45,249 at Miami University-Oxford. Public universities generally offer lower net costs, with Cleveland State at $16,065 and University of Akron at $14,981, while private institutions like Xavier University reach $32,342. Kent State demonstrates solid value with a $19,614 net cost producing $38,577 in graduate earnings, backed by a 65.5% graduation rate that matches Capital University.

Programs

$7,349 – $32,342

Net Price Range

$37,708

Avg. Program Earnings

53.7%

Avg. Graduation Rate

30 Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Akron Main Campus Akron, Ohio	$14,981	$35,365	$12,799	48.2%	82.9%
2	Cleveland State University Cleveland, Ohio	$16,065	$35,518	$12,613	48.9%	85.3%
3	Otterbein University Westerville, Ohio	$22,140	$44,170	$34,899	68.9%	83.7%
4	Kent State University at Kent Kent, Ohio	$19,614	$38,577	$12,846	65.5%	88.0%
5	Marietta College Marietta, Ohio	$18,372	$35,416	$38,974	58.1%	82.9%
6	Franklin University Columbus, Ohio	$22,605	$42,682	$9,577	30.3%
7	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, Ohio	$20,918	$38,559	$14,081	62.8%	78.7%
8	Ohio Dominican University Columbus, Ohio	$19,476	$33,281	$34,370	47.9%	52.4%
9	Capital University Columbus, Ohio	$23,585	$40,068	$41,788	65.5%	72.2%
10	Miami University-Oxford Oxford, Ohio	$27,662	$45,249	$17,809	81.8%	87.9%
11	University of Mount Union Alliance, Ohio	$22,539	$36,042	$35,400	64.9%	75.8%
12	Ohio Northern University Ada, Ohio	$25,727	$39,369	$37,800	74.2%	54.4%
13	Baldwin Wallace University Berea, Ohio	$27,654	$36,560	$37,938	68.6%	77.0%
14	Ashland University Ashland, Ohio	$21,994	$28,598	$28,910	60.6%	71.8%
15	Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio	$32,342	$36,166	$48,125	70.5%	84.5%
16	Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio	$23,758		$32,400	43.0%	82.8%
17	Ursuline College Pepper Pike, Ohio	$18,027		$37,860	53.2%	85.1%
18	Wilberforce University Wilberforce, Ohio	$7,349		$14,776	16.0%	45.1%
19	Wilmington College Wilmington, Ohio	$22,872		$30,962	55.1%	88.1%
20	Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio	$11,877		$10,791	52.9%	80.6%
21	Notre Dame College Cleveland, Ohio	$20,477		$32,606	36.6%	78.5%
22	Muskingum University New Concord, Ohio	$20,204		$31,440	52.7%	86.4%
23	Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon, Ohio	$21,812		$35,524	63.6%	85.3%
24	Miami University-Middletown Middletown, Ohio	$13,824		$7,278	24.5%
25	Miami University-Hamilton Hamilton, Ohio	$13,346		$7,278	21.6%
26	Lake Erie College Painesville, Ohio	$21,296		$36,032	41.9%	54.1%
27	Heidelberg University Tiffin, Ohio	$21,662		$33,628	49.8%	71.4%
28	The University of Findlay Findlay, Ohio	$23,731		$39,646	62.6%	86.0%
29	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, Ohio	$23,156		$13,570	71.5%	86.2%
30	Bluffton University Bluffton, Ohio	$17,430		$36,298	49.5%	96.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the wide earnings gap between Ohio's communication programs?

Graduate earnings range from $28,598 to $45,249 across Ohio's programs, largely reflecting program quality and alumni networks. Miami University-Oxford leads with $45,249 average earnings and an 81.8% graduation rate, while Otterbein University produces $44,170 earners with a 68.9% completion rate. Franklin University graduates earn $42,682 despite the school's 30.3% graduation rate, suggesting those who complete the program find strong career opportunities.

How do public universities compare to private colleges for communication studies value?

Public universities offer significantly lower net costs, with University of Akron at $14,981 and Cleveland State at $16,065 compared to private schools averaging over $22,000. However, private institutions often deliver higher earnings, with Otterbein graduates earning $44,170 versus $35,365 at Akron. Kent State provides the best public option balance with $19,614 net cost and $38,577 graduate earnings.

Does graduation rate correlate with program value in Ohio communication programs?

Higher graduation rates generally align with better career outcomes, though exceptions exist. Miami University-Oxford combines the highest graduation rate at 81.8% with top earnings of $45,249. Ohio Northern University achieves a 74.2% graduation rate with $39,369 average earnings. However, Franklin University graduates earn $42,682 despite only 30.3% completing their degrees, indicating program selectivity may play a role.

What makes Ohio attractive for communication and advertising careers?

Ohio houses major employers requiring communication professionals, from healthcare giants like Cleveland Clinic to manufacturing leaders like Honda. The state's economy spans healthcare, manufacturing, and growing tech sectors, creating demand for corporate communication, crisis management, and brand development roles. Additionally, the Ohio College Opportunity Grant provides financial assistance, making programs more affordable for students.

Is student debt manageable for Ohio communication graduates?

Most programs maintain reasonable debt levels relative to graduate earnings. Otterbein University graduates carry just $20,500 in debt while earning $44,170 annually, creating favorable debt-to-income ratios. Cleveland State students graduate with $21,500 debt and $35,518 earnings. Even higher-debt programs like Franklin University at $26,332 remain manageable given the $42,682 average salary.

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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.