Best Advertising Programs in the Midwest (2026)
Updated
Regional list from Best Advertising Programs in the United States
This page ranks 60 Advertising programs in the Midwest by median earnings of Advertising graduates four years after completing. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads the list with median earnings of $83,451 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed schools, the figure ranges from $83,451 to $28,960, with a median of $60,100.
The list includes 27 public and 33 private nonprofit institutions. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks 35th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and College of the Ozarks posts the lowest average net price at $6,100.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $83,451 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reports median earnings of $83,451 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. | |||||
| 2 | Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH | $79,710 | $28,384 | $16,015 | 75.4% |
| Miami University-Oxford admits 75% of applicants and its Advertising graduates earn a median of $79,710 four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | Butler University · Indianapolis, IN | $75,382 | $36,041 | $25,278 | 85.1% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Butler University left with a median of $26,000 in federal loans, and its Advertising completers earn $75,382 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion · Marion, IN | $71,669 | $22,866 | $19,793 | 88.9% |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion ranks 4th on this list and carries an average net price of $22,866. | |||||
| 5 | DePaul University · Chicago, IL | $71,045 | $30,902 | $27,359 | 75.9% |
| DePaul University posts a median of $71,045 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, with 168 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 6 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus · Bowling Green, OH | $70,583 | $24,022 | $18,396 | 81.0% |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus ranks 740th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and its Advertising graduates earn a median of $70,583 four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $69,300 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
| Michigan State University reports an average net price of $19,680 and median earnings of $69,300 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Loyola University Chicago · Chicago, IL | $68,942 | $36,079 | $28,992 | 81.6% |
| Loyola University Chicago admits 82% of applicants and its Advertising completers earn a median of $68,942 four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | Carthage College · Kenosha, WI | $68,708 | $26,565 | $23,293 | 87.1% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Carthage College left with a median of $26,000 in federal loans, and its Advertising completers earn $68,708 four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | Illinois State University · Normal, IL | $67,752 | $19,398 | $11,568 | 88.2% |
| Illinois State University ranks 10th on this list and reports median earnings of $67,752 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | South Dakota State University · Brookings, SD | $67,607 | $19,841 | $14,266 | 98.3% |
| South Dakota State University admits 98% of applicants and its Advertising graduates earn a median of $67,607 four years after completing. | |||||
| 12 | Columbia College Chicago · Chicago, IL | $66,798 | $26,598 | $20,924 | 89.5% |
| Columbia College Chicago carries an average net price of $26,598 and its Advertising completers earn a median of $66,798 four years after completing. | |||||
| 13 | Marquette University · Milwaukee, WI | $64,978 | $31,487 | $22,269 | 81.3% |
| Marquette University reports $64,978 in median earnings for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $31,487. | |||||
| 14 | Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI | $64,127 | $15,273 | $5,263 | 84.6% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed from Western Michigan University left with a median of $26,188 in federal loans, while its Advertising completers earned a median of $64,127 four years after completing. | |||||
| 15 | University of Northern Iowa · Cedar Falls, IA | $64,067 | $15,901 | $10,863 | 92.7% |
| University of Northern Iowa admits 93% of applicants and ranks 435th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 16 | Drake University · Des Moines, IA | $63,302 | $29,127 | $25,824 | 63.9% |
| Drake University ranks 16th on this list, with median earnings of $63,302 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | Iowa State University · Ames, IA | $62,965 | $18,589 | $10,582 | 88.7% |
| A public university in Ames, Iowa State University shows an average net price of $10,582 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 18 | Siena Heights University · Adrian, MI | $62,530 | $17,124 | $15,624 | 68.9% |
| Siena Heights University posts median earnings of $62,530 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 12 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 19 | Loras College · Dubuque, IA | $62,087 | $20,716 | $20,479 | 99.9% |
| With an admission rate of 100%, Loras College reports median federal debt of $26,000 across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 20 | Baldwin Wallace University · Berea, OH | $61,966 | $27,603 | $21,296 | 75.7% |
| Baldwin Wallace University ranks 1059th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and lists an average net price of $27,603. | |||||
| 21 | University of Central Missouri · Warrensburg, MO | $61,784 | $14,462 | $10,965 | 63.8% |
| University of Central Missouri reports $61,784 in median earnings for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $10,965 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 22 | Simpson College · Indianola, IA | $61,219 | $21,936 | $17,941 | 86.2% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed from Simpson College left with a median of $26,000 in federal loans, and the school admits 86% of applicants. | |||||
| 23 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE | $61,145 | $17,747 | $12,751 | 87.5% |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln ranks 23rd on this list, with a cohort of 239 graduates in the earnings cohort for its Advertising program. | |||||
| 24 | Ball State University · Muncie, IN | $60,686 | $14,940 | $7,834 | 85.5% |
| Ball State University reports median earnings of $60,686 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $14,940. | |||||
| 25 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh · Oshkosh, WI | $60,672 | $14,305 | $9,236 | 86.5% |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh reports median earnings of $60,672 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $9,236 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 26 | Xavier University · Cincinnati, OH | $60,642 | $32,997 | $26,728 | 86.4% |
| A private nonprofit university in Cincinnati, Xavier University admits 86% of applicants and its Advertising graduates earn a median of $60,642 four years after completing. | |||||
| 27 | North Central College · Naperville, IL | $60,573 | $21,044 | $12,507 | 77.3% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $24,500 in federal loans at North Central College, which ranks 942nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 28 | Coe College · Cedar Rapids, IA | $60,540 | $18,745 | $11,479 | 64.0% |
| Coe College ranks 28th on this list and posts an average net price of $18,745. | |||||
| 29 | Missouri State University-Springfield · Springfield, MO | $60,390 | $17,613 | $13,718 | 90.5% |
| With 56 graduates in the earnings cohort, Missouri State University-Springfield reports median earnings of $60,390 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 30 | Kent State University at Kent · Kent, OH | $60,218 | $20,787 | $15,280 | 86.3% |
| Kent State University at Kent admits 86% of applicants and its Advertising graduates earn a median of $60,218 four years after completing, just above the list median of $60,100. | |||||
| 31 | Lewis University · Romeoville, IL | $59,981 | $17,028 | $10,382 | 71.3% |
| Lewis University carries an average net price of $10,382 for families earning under $30,000 and a school-wide median federal debt of $21,500 across all borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 32 | Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI | $59,927 | $15,407 | $13,250 | 79.6% |
| Eastern Michigan University ranks 319th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $59,927 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI | $59,522 | $17,597 | $12,185 | 89.8% |
| Central Michigan University reports median earnings of $59,522 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, with 91 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 34 | Eastern Illinois University · Charleston, IL | $59,401 | $12,786 | $9,828 | 65.4% |
| A public university in Charleston, Eastern Illinois University admits 65% of applicants and posts an average net price of $12,786. | |||||
| 35 | Wayne State University · Detroit, MI | $59,025 | $12,766 | $11,090 | 81.2% |
| Wayne State University reports median earnings of $59,025 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $11,090 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 36 | Bradley University · Peoria, IL | $58,515 | $22,719 | $17,269 | 76.8% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans at Bradley University, which ranks 587th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 37 | Southeast Missouri State University · Cape Girardeau, MO | $58,082 | $15,882 | $12,704 | 73.5% |
| Southeast Missouri State University reports median earnings of $58,082 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, with 56 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 38 | Otterbein University · Westerville, OH | $58,065 | $19,237 | $12,458 | 84.5% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Otterbein University left with a median of $26,000 in federal loans, and the school's Advertising graduates earned a median of $58,065 four years after completing. | |||||
| 39 | Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI | $57,599 | $16,317 | $12,272 | 83.0% |
| Grand Valley State University admits 83% of applicants and ranks 210th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 40 | Olivet Nazarene University · Bourbonnais, IL | $56,435 | $20,729 | $17,232 | 55.9% |
| Olivet Nazarene University has an average net price of $20,729 and a median of $56,435 in earnings for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | Cleveland State University · Cleveland, OH | $55,174 | $14,764 | $11,958 | 91.3% |
| Cleveland State University ranks 41st on this list, with median earnings of $55,174 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing and a cohort of 102. | |||||
| 42 | Lindenwood University · Saint Charles, MO | $55,003 | $19,638 | $15,678 | 56.8% |
| A private nonprofit university in Saint Charles, Lindenwood University reports an average net price of $15,678 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 43 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus · Fargo, ND | $54,656 | $15,543 | $9,370 | 95.0% |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus posts median earnings of $54,656 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 95%. | |||||
| 44 | Franklin College · Franklin, IN | $54,298 | $22,855 | $14,790 | 69.8% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Franklin College left with a median of $27,000 in federal loans, and the school ranks 1162nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 45 | Webster University · Saint Louis, MO | $54,217 | $27,047 | $22,359 | 86.2% |
| Webster University reports median earnings of $54,217 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $27,047. | |||||
| 46 | Minnesota State University Moorhead · Moorhead, MN | $53,036 | $17,997 | $11,129 | 58.8% |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead admits 59% of applicants and its Advertising graduates earned a median of $53,036 four years after completing. | |||||
| 47 | University of Akron Main Campus · Akron, OH | $51,824 | $13,946 | $10,413 | 59.7% |
| University of Akron Main Campus ranks 47th on this list, with an average net price of $10,413 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 48 | Ferris State University · Big Rapids, MI | $51,396 | $8,624 | $2,556 | 91.4% |
| Ferris State University reports median earnings of $51,396 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $21,000 in federal loans. | |||||
| 49 | Capital University · Columbus, OH | $49,426 | $22,576 | $19,062 | 70.2% |
| Capital University reports median earnings of $49,426 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 7 graduates in the earnings data. | |||||
| 50 | College of the Ozarks · Point Lookout, MO | $44,554 | $6,100 | $6,381 | 12.0% |
| College of the Ozarks posts an average net price of $6,100 and admits 12% of applicants. | |||||
| 51 | Ashland University · Ashland, OH | $43,296 | $21,988 | $16,489 | 76.4% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $25,000 in federal loans at Ashland University, which ranks 51st on this page. | |||||
| 52 | University of Mount Union · Alliance, OH | $36,042 | $23,280 | $16,786 | 78.2% |
| University of Mount Union posts an admission rate of 78% and an average net price of $16,786 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 53 | Marietta College · Marietta, OH | $35,416 | $21,083 | $18,254 | 79.3% |
| Marietta College ranks 1088th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with a cohort of 6 graduates in the earnings data. | |||||
| 54 | Drury University · Springfield, MO | $35,416 | $20,831 | $18,759 | 57.6% |
| Drury University reports median earnings of $35,416 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $20,831. | |||||
| 55 | University of Northwestern-St Paul · Saint Paul, MN | $35,060 | $27,705 | $26,696 | 93.5% |
| With an admission rate of 93%, University of Northwestern-St Paul ranks 1293rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 56 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota · Winona, MN | $33,993 | $11,704 | $16,182 | 92.8% |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota reports an average net price of $11,704 and median earnings of $33,993 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 57 | Northern Michigan University · Marquette, MI | $33,993 | $14,085 | $7,697 | 84.0% |
| A public university in Marquette, Northern Michigan University ranks 57th on this list and reports an average net price of $7,697 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 58 | Ohio Dominican University · Columbus, OH | $33,281 | $20,079 | $16,997 | 94.2% |
| Ohio Dominican University admits 94% of applicants, and its Advertising graduates earn a median of $33,281 four years after completing. | |||||
| 59 | Saint Ambrose University · Davenport, IA | $32,382 | $24,691 | $22,037 | 77.3% |
| Saint Ambrose University ranks 765th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with a cohort of 6 graduates in the earnings data. | |||||
| 60 | Monmouth College · Monmouth, IL | $28,960 | $17,133 | $12,483 | 90.9% |
| Monmouth College reports median earnings of $28,960 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 8 graduates in the earnings data. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Advertising graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figures are medians for federally aided completers of each program who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. For 9 of the 60 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Miami University-Oxford is $3,741, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $54,491.