Cheapest Public Relations Colleges in New York

CUNY Queens College delivers strong value for Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication students with a net price of just $3,830, making it nearly $11,000 cheaper than the next most affordable option. This dramatic cost advantage matters significantly in New York, where the media and advertising industry offers abundant internship and career opportunities but also demands graduates manage student debt carefully. The state's 20 programs span from $3,830 to $26,985 in net costs, with earnings ranging from $20,140 to $42,682 annually. New York's position as the global advertising capital, home to major agencies like Ogilvy and McCann, creates unique pathways for communications graduates to launch careers without relocating. Fashion Institute of Technology graduates earn $42,458 despite the program's $22,024 net cost, reflecting the strong return on investment possible in the state's competitive media market. State programs dominate the most affordable tier, with eight of the ten cheapest options being public institutions.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY Queens College so much more affordable than other programs?

CUNY Queens College offers a net price of $3,830, nearly $10,000 less than SUNY Polytechnic's $13,882. As part of the City University of New York system, Queens College benefits from substantial state funding and lower operational costs. The 60.20% graduation rate demonstrates solid student success despite the low cost. Students gain access to New York City's media market while paying significantly less than private alternatives.

How do Fashion Institute of Technology graduates achieve the highest earnings?

FIT graduates earn $42,458 annually, nearly $5,400 more than SUNY Plattsburgh's $37,054. The specialized fashion and design focus creates direct connections to high-paying creative agencies and luxury brands in Manhattan. With an 83.30% graduation rate, FIT maintains strong industry partnerships that translate into better starting salaries. The program's $22,024 net cost delivers clear return on investment within the communications field.

Is there a significant difference between public and private program outcomes?

Private programs like Canisius University show 70.70% graduation rates compared to mixed results among public options, ranging from SUNY Morrisville's 31.90% to FIT's 83.30%. Mercy University graduates earn just $20,140 despite the $15,770 net cost, while SUNY Plattsburgh graduates earn $37,054 at $16,547. Public programs generally offer better value, with state funding helping control costs. Private institutions don't consistently deliver higher earnings to justify their premium pricing.

Where do the most affordable programs concentrate geographically?

The SUNY system dominates affordable options across upstate New York, with programs in Buffalo, Oswego, Plattsburgh, and Fredonia all under $20,000 net cost. CUNY Queens College represents the most affordable option in the NYC metro area at $3,830. Upstate locations offer lower living costs that complement reasonable tuition rates. Students can access New York's media market through internships while studying in more affordable regions like the North Country or Western New York.

Does acceptance rate correlate with program quality or cost?

Fashion Institute of Technology maintains the lowest acceptance rate at 52.80% while delivering the highest graduate earnings at $42,458. SUNY Cortland accepts 59.78% of applicants and achieves a strong 68.20% graduation rate. More selective programs like FIT and Cortland tend to show better employment outcomes. However, SUNY Morrisville accepts 87.17% of students but graduates only 31.90%, suggesting high acceptance rates don't guarantee degree completion.

More Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Rankings

Best Value Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication in New York Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Under $20,000 in New York

All Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Programs Best Colleges in New York Best Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication in New York

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