4,801
Graduates Per Year
$52K
Average Salary
#85
Most Popular Major
Degree Stats
Popular
4,801
13% NATIONAL AVG
Diplomas Received Last Year
100
5% NATIONAL AVG
Colleges Offering this Degree
Most Popular Degrees
84
Cinematography
4,877
85
Advertising
4,801
86
Geography and Cartography
4,690
Most Widely Offered Degrees
35
/
1.852
Worse
Better
Top 100 Colleges offering this degree
Degree Granting Schools that are Public
Most Graduates
By Region
Great Lakes
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
By State
Michigan
Central Michigan University
By Conference
Big Ten Conference
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
By School
American River College
If you think life as an advertising account executive, advertisement and sales consultant, or digital advertising specialist sounds interesting, then a degree in advertising may just be for you. You could even become the 21st century version of the mad men tv show!
Advertising is the 85th most popular degree in America, with 4,801 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #86 Geography and Cartography, and narrowly lost to #84 Cinematography.
The degree is offered at a total of 100 colleges across the nation, and is the 165th most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 5% of the Top 100 Best Colleges in America.
It is also worth noting that 53% of colleges offering advertising are public making it a pretty accessible field.
The great lakes produces the most advertising graduates, largely led by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, while it’s the Big Ten Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, Michigan ranks highest, with particular help from Central Michigan University and Grand Valley State University.
All that being said, no individual school produces more advertising graduates than American River College, which graduated 496 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study advertising). More students studied advertising as a percentage of total students at Fashion Institute of Technology than any other college.
We wish you luck finding the right college for you. We hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Advertising list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
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#1 Best Colleges for Advertising
Fashion Institute of Technology is a mid-sized public college located in New York, NY ranked 196th in the United States. It has a total of 9,832 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 53.89% of applicants. Fashion Institute of Technology offers 49 different majors and is best known for its Fashion Merchandising, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, and Advertising programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $5,190 for in-state students and $15,570 for those from out-of-state, Fashion Institute of Technology is moderately priced. 68.35% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to make roughly $48,900 per year, which is 18% over the national median.
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New York, NY
www.fitnyc.edu
A
Rating
54%
Acceptance
10,065
Students
# 53
Ranking
$15,570
Tuition
#2 Best Colleges for Advertising
Michigan State University is a very large public university located in East Lansing, MI ranked 163rd in the nation. It has a total of 42,492 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 71.12% of applicants. Michigan State University offers 384 different majors and is best known for its Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management, Pre-Law Studies, and Soil Sciences programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $14,460 for in-state students and $39,766 for those from out-of-state, Michigan State University is quite expensive. 76.24% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to make roughly $53,600 per year, which is 29% above the national median.
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East Lansing, MI
https://www.msu.edu
A
Rating
71%
Acceptance
55,332
Students
# 41
Ranking
$39,766
Tuition
#3 Best Colleges for Advertising
The University of Texas at Austin is a very large public university located in Austin, TX ranked 81st in America. It has a total of 43,132 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting barely below 1 out of every 3 applicants. The University of Texas at Austin offers 339 different majors and is best known for its Communication Sciences and Disorders, Writing, and Accounting programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $10,824 for students from Texas and $38,326 for those from out-of-state, The University of Texas at Austin is quite expensive. 77.77% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to earn more or less $58,200 per year, which is 40% above the national median.
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Austin, TX
www.utexas.edu
A+
Rating
32%
Acceptance
55,128
Students
# 10
Ranking
$38,326
Tuition
#4 Best Colleges for Advertising
University of Oregon is a very large public university located in Eugene, OR ranked 6th in Oregon. It has a total of 20,912 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 81.8% of applicants. University of Oregon offers 224 different majors and is best known for its Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Physiology, and Multimedia Art programs, which are all nationally ranked 2nd. With an annual tuition of $10,440 for in-state students and $34,335 for those from out-of-state, University of Oregon is reasonably expensive. 65.06% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, working. After finishing college, alumni go on to make roughly $44,800 per year, which is 8% over the national median.
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Eugene, OR
https://www.uoregon.edu
B+
Rating
82%
Acceptance
25,203
Students
# 101
Ranking
$34,335
Tuition
#5 Best Colleges for Advertising
University of Florida is a very large public university located in Gainesville, FL ranked 78th in America. It has a total of 38,645 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting just under 3 in every 8 applicants. University of Florida offers 433 different majors and is best known for its Exercise Physiology, Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, and Family and Community Services programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $4,477 for in-state students and $25,694 for those from out-of-state, University of Florida is somewhat moderately pricey. 85.38% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to make more or less $56,000 per year, which is 35% above the national median.
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Gainesville, FL
www.ufl.edu/
A+
Rating
37%
Acceptance
58,749
Students
# 8
Ranking
$25,694
Tuition
#6 Best Colleges for Advertising
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a very large public university located in Champaign, IL ranked 117th in the US. It has a total of 35,883 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting nearly three out of every five applicants. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers 372 different majors and is best known for its Civil Engineering, Food Science, and Architectural Technology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $12,036 for in-state students and $29,178 for those from out-of-state, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is reasonably costly. 80.23% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to draw about $61,500 per year, which is 48% greater than the national median.
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Champaign, IL
www.illinois.edu/
A
Rating
59%
Acceptance
54,985
Students
# 21
Ranking
$29,178
Tuition
#7 Best Colleges for Advertising
Syracuse University is a very large private university located in Syracuse, NY ranked 109th in the US. It has a total of 28,546 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 44.38% of applicants. Syracuse University offers 368 different majors and is best known for its Broadcast Journalism, Public Administration, and Photojournalism programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 2nd respectively). With an annual tuition of $52,210 per year, Syracuse University is very expensive. 77.41% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn close to $62,100 per year, which is 50% greater than the national median.
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Syracuse, NY
https://www.syracuse.edu
A
Rating
44%
Acceptance
38,110
Students
# 95
Ranking
$52,210
Tuition
#8 Best Colleges for Advertising
University of Miami is a large private university located in Coral Gables, FL ranked 59th in the United States. It has a total of 12,351 full-time undergraduate students and is relatively competitive, with a 27.13% acceptance rate. University of Miami offers 309 different majors and is best known for its Information Technology Administration and Management, Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography, and Broadcast Journalism programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $50,400 per year, University of Miami is exceptionally costly. 74.98% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to earn about $60,100 per year, which is 45% above the national median.
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Coral Gables, FL
www.miami.edu/
A+
Rating
27%
Acceptance
19,618
Students
# 55
Ranking
$50,400
Tuition
#9 Best Colleges for Advertising
University of Georgia is a very large public university located in Athens, GA ranked 127th in the United States. It has a total of 32,548 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 45.3% acceptance rate. University of Georgia offers 419 different majors and is best known for its Insurance, Landscape Architecture, and Mathematics Teacher Education programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $9,790 for students from Georgia and $28,830 for those from out-of-state, University of Georgia is reasonably costly. 74.72% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, working. After finishing college, alumni go on to bring home about $50,500 per year, which is 22% above the national median.
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Athens, GA
www.uga.edu
A
Rating
45%
Acceptance
42,708
Students
# 24
Ranking
$28,830
Tuition
#10 Best Colleges for Advertising
Southern Methodist University is a large private university located in Dallas, TX ranked 95th in the United States. It has a total of 6,947 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 47.29% of applicants. Southern Methodist University offers 217 different majors and is best known for its Office Management and Supervision, Fitness Administration, and Real Estate programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 9th, and 9th respectively). With an annual tuition of $50,200 per year, Southern Methodist University is exceptionally expensive. 70.9% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, working. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to earn close to $60,700 per year, which is 46% greater than the national median.
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Dallas, TX
www.smu.edu
A+
Rating
47%
Acceptance
12,825
Students
# 84
Ranking
$50,200
Tuition
#11 Best Colleges for Advertising
Pepperdine University is a mid-sized private university located in Malibu, CA ranked 99th in the US. It has a total of 3,931 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, with a 31.72% acceptance rate. Pepperdine University offers 107 different majors and is best known for its Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Organizational Communication, and Hispanic-American Studies programs (nationally ranked 6th, 7th, and 8th respectively). With an annual tuition of $55,640 per year, Pepperdine University is extremely pricey. 78.89% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, working. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to make more or less $65,500 per year, which is 58% above the national median.
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Malibu, CA
www.pepperdine.edu/
A
Rating
32%
Acceptance
9,814
Students
# 87
Ranking
$55,640
Tuition
#12 Best Colleges for Advertising
Temple University is a very large public university located in Philadelphia, PA ranked 253rd in America. It has a total of 31,632 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting just about three out of every five applicants. Temple University offers 493 different majors and is best known for its Organizational Communication, Recreational Therapy, and Social Studies Teacher Education programs, which are all nationally ranked 2nd. With an annual tuition of $16,080 for students from Pennsylvania and $28,992 for those from out-of-state, Temple University is somewhat moderately high-priced. 69.66% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, employment. After finishing college, alumni go on to take in around $50,500 per year, which is 22% over the national median.
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Philadelphia, PA
www.temple.edu
A-
Rating
60%
Acceptance
43,154
Students
# 67
Ranking
$28,992
Tuition
#13 Best Colleges for Advertising
Pace University is a large private university located in New York, NY ranked 56th in New York. It has a total of 9,686 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 78.71% of applicants. Pace University offers 136 different majors and is best known for its Theatre Management, Directing and Theatrical Production, and Applied Psychology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 5th respectively). With an annual tuition of $44,714 per year, Pace University is rather costly. 51.86% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to make around $60,300 per year, which is 45% over the national median.
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New York, NY
www.pace.edu
B
Rating
79%
Acceptance
15,478
Students
# 289
Ranking
$44,714
Tuition
#14 Best Colleges for Advertising
University of Central Florida is a very large public university located in Orlando, FL ranked 195th in the nation. It has a total of 68,412 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 44.36% acceptance rate. University of Central Florida offers 195 different majors and is best known for its Hospitality Management, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Physical Education programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $4,478 for in-state students and $19,810 for those from out-of-state, University of Central Florida is moderately priced. 66.14% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to take home close to $45,400 per year, which is 9% greater than the national median.
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Orlando, FL
www.ucf.edu/
A
Rating
44%
Acceptance
80,378
Students
# 52
Ranking
$19,810
Tuition
#15 Best Colleges for Advertising
The University of Alabama is a very large public university located in Tuscaloosa, AL ranked 4th in Alabama. It has a total of 36,045 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 82.68% acceptance rate. The University of Alabama offers 214 different majors and is best known for its Managerial Economics, Human Sciences, and Marketing programs (nationally ranked 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $10,780 for students from Alabama and $30,250 for those from out-of-state, The University of Alabama is somewhat moderately expensive. 57.21% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, working. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to make more or less $44,500 per year, which is 7% above the national median.
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Tuscaloosa, AL
www.ua.edu/
B
Rating
83%
Acceptance
42,432
Students
# 148
Ranking
$30,250
Tuition
#16 Best Colleges for Advertising
Marquette University is a large private university located in Milwaukee, WI ranked 204th in the nation. It has a total of 8,666 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 82.96% of applicants. Marquette University offers 188 different majors and is best known for its Speech-Language Pathology, Writing, and Physiology programs (nationally ranked 8th, 9th, and 13th respectively). With an annual tuition of $43,350 per year, Marquette University is rather costly. 78.4% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, entering the labor force. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to take in approximately $62,600 per year, which is 51% over the national median.
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Milwaukee, WI
www.marquette.edu
A
Rating
83%
Acceptance
12,285
Students
# 149
Ranking
$43,350
Tuition
#17 Best Colleges for Advertising
University of San Francisco is a large private university located in San Francisco, CA ranked 173rd in the nation. It has a total of 7,393 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 64.42% of applicants. University of San Francisco offers 120 different majors and is best known for its Entrepreneurship, Advertising, and Design and Visual Communications programs (nationally ranked 5th, 17th, and 23rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $49,740 per year, University of San Francisco is exceptionally pricey. 67.27% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, working. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to earn about $62,300 per year, which is 50% above the national median.
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San Francisco, CA
https://www.usfca.edu
A
Rating
64%
Acceptance
12,388
Students
# 127
Ranking
$49,740
Tuition
#18 Best Colleges for Advertising
Brigham Young University-Provo is a very large private university located in Provo, UT ranked 233rd in the nation. It has a total of 35,951 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 67.49% acceptance rate. Brigham Young University-Provo offers 310 different majors and is best known for its Family Systems, Portuguese Language and Literature, and Spanish Language Teacher Education programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With an annual tuition of $5,790 per year, Brigham Young University-Provo is very inexpensive. 66.32% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, entering the labor market. Open graduating, alumni go on to earn around $59,700 per year, which is 44% over the national median.
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Provo, UT
www.byu.edu
A-
Rating
67%
Acceptance
39,233
Students
# 168
Ranking
$5,790
Tuition
#19 Best Colleges for Advertising
Texas Tech University is a very large public university located in Lubbock, TX ranked 18th in Texas. It has a total of 33,618 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting something like 7/10ths of applicants. Texas Tech University offers 215 different majors and is best known for its Agricultural Public Services, Human Sciences, and Rhetoric and Composition programs (nationally ranked 1st, 4th, and 6th respectively). With an annual tuition of $6,744 for students from Texas and $16,704 for those from out-of-state, Texas Tech University is moderately priced. 58.48% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, employment. After finishing their studies, alumni go on to bring home near $51,400 per year, which is 24% greater than the national median.
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Lubbock, TX
www.ttu.edu
B
Rating
69%
Acceptance
41,153
Students
# 126
Ranking
$16,704
Tuition
#20 Best Colleges for Advertising
University of South Carolina-Columbia is a very large public university located in Columbia, SC ranked 267th in the nation. It has a total of 28,022 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 68.65% of applicants. University of South Carolina-Columbia offers 300 different majors and is best known for its Retailing and Retail Operations, Non-Profit Management, and Exercise Physiology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 1st, and 4th respectively). With an annual tuition of $12,288 for students from South Carolina and $33,528 for those from out-of-state, University of South Carolina-Columbia is reasonably expensive. 65.2% of students graduate ready to the next chapter of their lives, employment. After college, alumni go on to earn about $44,900 per year, which is 8% over the national median.
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Columbia, SC
www.sc.edu/
A-
Rating
69%
Acceptance
37,510
Students
# 72
Ranking
$33,528
Tuition
#21 Best Colleges for Advertising
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is a very large public university located in Norman, OK ranked 2nd in Oklahoma. It has a total of 24,261 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 80.41% acceptance rate. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus offers 279 different majors and is best known for its Organizational Behavior Studies, Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, and Zoology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With an annual tuition of $4,788 for in-state students and $20,169 for those from out-of-state, University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus is reasonably priced. 53.71% of students graduate starting the next stage of their lives, joining the workforce. Open graduating, alumni go on to take in roughly $51,100 per year, which is 23% over the national median.
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Norman, OK
www.ou.edu
B+
Rating
80%
Acceptance
32,189
Students
# 116
Ranking
$20,169
Tuition
#22 Best Colleges for Advertising
Rowan University is a large public institution located in Glassboro, NJ ranked 14th in New Jersey. It has a total of 18,659 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 74.34% of applicants. Rowan University offers 127 different majors and is best known for its Music Teacher Education, Behavioral Sciences, and Music Technology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 5th, and 6th respectively). With an annual tuition of $10,076 for in-state students and $18,908 for those from out-of-state, Rowan University is reasonably priced. 65.13% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, joining the labor force. After finishing college, alumni go on to generate close to $50,000 per year, which is 20% over the national median.
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Glassboro, NJ
https://www.rowan.edu
B-
Rating
74%
Acceptance
23,011
Students
# 160
Ranking
$18,908
Tuition
#23 Best Colleges for Advertising
Drake University is a small private college located in Des Moines, IA ranked 213th in the US. It has a total of 3,193 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 67.64% acceptance rate. Drake University offers 83 different majors and is best known for its Business Statistics, Actuarial Science, and Accounting and Finance programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 7th respectively). With an annual tuition of $42,694 per year, Drake University is quite costly. 71.04% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, working. After finishing college, alumni go on to make roughly $58,300 per year, which is 40% over the national median.
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Des Moines, IA
www.drake.edu
A
Rating
68%
Acceptance
5,626
Students
# 156
Ranking
$42,694
Tuition
#24 Best Colleges for Advertising
Appalachian State University is a large public institution located in Boone, NC ranked 14th in North Carolina. It has a total of 18,575 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 76.81% of applicants. Appalachian State University offers 142 different majors and is best known for its History Teacher Education, Environmental Control Technologies, and Art Teacher Education programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 9th respectively). With an annual tuition of $4,242 for in-state students and $19,049 for those from out-of-state, Appalachian State University is moderately priced. 70.11% of students graduate beginning the next stage of their lives, employment. After finishing college, alumni go on to bring in close to $38,800 per year, which is 7% under the national median.
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Boone, NC
www.appstate.edu/
B-
Rating
77%
Acceptance
20,714
Students
# 180
Ranking
$19,049
Tuition
#25 Best Colleges for Advertising
Webster University is a mid-sized private institution located in Saint Louis, MO ranked 11th in Missouri. It has a total of 3,522 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting faintly above 55.5% of applicants. Webster University offers 227 different majors and is best known for its Game and Interactive Media Design, Musical Theatre, and Legal Studies programs (nationally ranked 11th, 20th, and 24th respectively). With an annual tuition of $28,500 per year, Webster University is somewhat moderately expensive. 59.7% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to take in about $42,300 per year, which is 2% over the national median.
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Saint Louis, MO
www.webster.edu
B
Rating
57%
Acceptance
14,581
Students
# 308
Ranking
$28,500
Tuition