Best Advertising Programs in the South (2026)
Updated
Regional list from Best Advertising Programs in the United States
This page ranks the 57 Advertising programs in the South by the median earnings of Advertising graduates four years after completing. Southern Methodist University ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $89,330 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed programs, the figure ranges from $89,330 to $24,421, with a median of $58,265.
Public institutions account for 36 of the 57 programs, or 63%, while 21 are private nonprofit. University of Florida posts the lowest average net price on the list, at $6,541.
The University of Texas at Austin ranks 9th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Methodist University · Dallas, TX | $89,330 | $40,892 | $23,544 | 63.4% |
| Southern Methodist University reports median earnings of $89,330 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 120. | |||||
| 2 | George Washington University · Washington, DC | $85,459 | $36,586 | $17,440 | 47.1% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at George Washington University left with a median of $20,449 in federal loans, and the school's Advertising graduates earn $85,459 four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | University of Miami · Coral Gables, FL | $82,999 | $37,244 | $15,978 | 18.9% |
| University of Miami admits 19% of applicants and its Advertising graduates earn a median of $82,999 four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $80,221 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
| The University of Texas at Austin, a public university in Austin, ranks 9th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $80,221 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | American University · Washington, DC | $78,410 | $41,943 | $23,233 | 62.0% |
| American University has an average net price of $41,943 and its Advertising graduates earn a median of $78,410 four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus · Norman, OK | $76,148 | $15,300 | $10,509 | 76.6% |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus reports median earnings of $76,148 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, and the school's admission rate is 77%. | |||||
| 7 | University of Georgia · Athens, GA | $74,531 | $13,936 | $8,085 | 37.7% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at University of Georgia left with a median of $18,500 in federal loans, alongside median earnings of $74,531 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Clemson University · Clemson, SC | $71,968 | $22,253 | $13,607 | 38.3% |
| Clemson University ranks 232nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $71,968 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 9 | Texas Christian University · Fort Worth, TX | $71,186 | $36,660 | $17,956 | 44.5% |
| Texas Christian University has an average net price of $36,660 and an admission rate of 44%, with its Advertising graduates earning a median of $71,186 four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $69,600 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
| University of Florida reports median earnings of $69,600 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, and the school's average net price is $6,541. | |||||
| 11 | The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL | $68,227 | $22,420 | $19,169 | 76.7% |
| The University of Alabama admits 77% of applicants and its Advertising graduates earn a median of $68,227 four years after completing. | |||||
| 12 | Howard University · Washington, DC | $67,881 | $50,539 | $46,051 | 41.3% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Howard University left with a median of $24,500 in federal loans, and the school's Advertising graduates earn $67,881 four years after completing. | |||||
| 13 | Auburn University · Auburn, AL | $67,413 | $24,323 | $16,681 | 45.9% |
| Auburn University reports median earnings of $67,413 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $24,323. | |||||
| 14 | Belmont University · Nashville, TN | $67,040 | $33,147 | $22,950 | 95.3% |
| Belmont University, a private nonprofit university in Nashville, admits 95% of applicants and shows a median of $20,500 in federal loans across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 15 | Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL | $65,941 | $11,297 | $5,938 | 24.2% |
| Florida State University ranks 15th on this list with median earnings of $65,941 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, and it carries an average net price of $5,938 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 16 | Florida International University · Miami, FL | $65,343 | $9,288 | $7,003 | 54.7% |
| A public university in Miami, Florida International University admits 55% of applicants and reports median earnings of $65,343 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | University of South Carolina-Columbia · Columbia, SC | $65,248 | $22,811 | $12,634 | 60.2% |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia ranks 173rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $65,248 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 18 | Georgia Southern University · Statesboro, GA | $64,934 | $15,267 | $12,162 | 87.9% |
| Georgia Southern University admits 88% of applicants and its Advertising graduates earned a median of $64,934 four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | Kennesaw State University · Kennesaw, GA | $64,501 | $15,048 | $12,235 | 69.2% |
| Kennesaw State University reports median earnings of $64,501 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $23,833 in federal loans. | |||||
| 20 | The University of Tampa · Tampa, FL | $63,368 | $36,211 | $30,011 | 40.3% |
| The University of Tampa ranks 20th on this list, with an average net price of $36,211 and median earnings of $63,368 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 21 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN | $63,314 | $18,976 | $10,029 | 41.6% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville shows an average net price of $10,029 for families earning under $30,000, and its Advertising graduates earned a median of $63,314 four years after completing. | |||||
| 22 | University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY | $62,754 | $18,851 | $12,182 | 92.9% |
| University of Kentucky admits 93% of applicants and reports median earnings of $62,754 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 23 | High Point University · High Point, NC | $62,467 | $38,707 | $32,763 | 75.3% |
| High Point University ranks 1411th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Advertising graduates earned a median of $62,467 four years after completing. | |||||
| 24 | Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX | $62,247 | $19,070 | $12,457 | 72.7% |
| Texas Tech University reports median earnings of $62,247 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, alongside a median of $21,500 in federal loans across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 25 | University of Central Florida · Orlando, FL | $62,140 | $10,411 | $5,816 | 40.1% |
| University of Central Florida reports median earnings of $62,140 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $10,411. | |||||
| 26 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | $60,180 | $14,276 | $10,929 | 73.9% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left University of Houston with a median of $18,194 in federal loans, and the school's Advertising graduates earn $60,180 four years after completing. | |||||
| 27 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $59,009 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 89.3% |
| Texas State University admits 89% of applicants and ranks 40th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 28 | Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA | $58,507 | $39,949 | $16,126 | 14.0% |
| A private nonprofit university in New Orleans, Tulane University of Louisiana posts the lowest admission rate on this page at 14% and reports Advertising earnings of $58,507 four years after completing. | |||||
| 29 | Murray State University · Murray, KY | $58,265 | $9,096 | $6,242 | 85.7% |
| Murray State University ranks 29th on this list with median earnings of $58,265 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $6,242 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 30 | University of Memphis · Memphis, TN | $58,237 | $12,397 | $10,607 | 72.0% |
| With a cohort of 39 graduates in the earnings cohort, University of Memphis reports Advertising earnings of $58,237 four years after completing and a school-wide median federal debt of $23,300. | |||||
| 31 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus · Stillwater, OK | $56,319 | $17,447 | $12,243 | 75.0% |
| Oklahoma State University-Main Campus posts an admission rate of 75% and median earnings of $56,319 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 32 | Appalachian State University · Boone, NC | $55,671 | $16,836 | $9,325 | 90.1% |
| Appalachian State University reports an average net price of $16,836 and median earnings of $55,671 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | Morgan State University · Baltimore, MD | $55,169 | $14,985 | $9,585 | 82.2% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left Morgan State University with a median of $27,250 in federal loans, and the school ranks 148th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 34 | Arkansas State University · Jonesboro, AR | $54,196 | $12,366 | $10,098 | 82.3% |
| Arkansas State University ranks 34th on this list, with an average net price of $10,098 for families earning under $30,000 and Advertising earnings of $54,196 four years after completing. | |||||
| 35 | Wingate University · Wingate, NC | $54,129 | $20,748 | $18,772 | 91.1% |
| A private nonprofit university in Wingate, Wingate University admits 91% of applicants and reports median earnings of $54,129 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 36 | Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY | $53,839 | $10,990 | $7,087 | 93.9% |
| Western Kentucky University reports a cohort of 87 graduates in the earnings cohort and median earnings of $53,839 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 37 | Flagler College · Saint Augustine, FL | $53,353 | $30,525 | $21,733 | 80.8% |
| Flagler College reports median earnings of $53,353 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $21,733 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 38 | Loyola University New Orleans · New Orleans, LA | $53,240 | $23,696 | $20,131 | 93.1% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Loyola University New Orleans left with a median of $26,000 in federal loans, and the school's Advertising completers earned a median of $53,240 four years after graduating. | |||||
| 39 | Florida Southern College · Lakeland, FL | $52,796 | $28,551 | $23,624 | 64.4% |
| Florida Southern College ranks 39th on this list and admits 64% of applicants, with a cohort of 43 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 40 | Harding University · Searcy, AR | $51,434 | $22,130 | $15,418 | 70.5% |
| Harding University posts an average net price of $22,130 and a median of $51,434 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | Campbell University · Buies Creek, NC | $51,126 | $24,516 | $20,751 | 87.2% |
| Campbell University ranks 862nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Advertising graduates earned a median of $51,126 four years after completing. | |||||
| 42 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette · Lafayette, LA | $51,082 | $13,530 | $11,157 | 87.0% |
| A public university in Lafayette, University of Louisiana at Lafayette reports median earnings of $51,082 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, with 64 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 43 | University of Central Oklahoma · Edmond, OK | $50,636 | $18,309 | $15,275 | 78.1% |
| University of Central Oklahoma shows a median of $50,636 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $15,275 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 44 | Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY | $49,989 | $8,191 | $2,603 | 67.7% |
| Northern Kentucky University carries an average net price of $8,191 and a median federal debt of $23,000 across all of the school's borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 45 | The University of Texas at El Paso · El Paso, TX | $49,558 | $9,403 | $7,863 | 99.9% |
| The University of Texas at El Paso admits 100% of applicants and reports median earnings of $49,558 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 46 | Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY | $49,272 | $11,040 | $8,591 | 77.6% |
| Eastern Kentucky University ranks 46th on this list, with a cohort of 9 graduates in the earnings cohort and an average net price of $8,591 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 47 | Morehead State University · Morehead, KY | $46,667 | $9,793 | $7,150 | 77.2% |
| Morehead State University reports median earnings of $46,667 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing and ranks 661st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 48 | University of Central Arkansas · Conway, AR | $45,649 | $16,511 | $14,656 | 89.5% |
| University of Central Arkansas shows a median federal debt of $20,346 across all of the school's borrowers who completed, alongside median earnings of $45,649 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 49 | Lee University · Cleveland, TN | $41,882 | $18,878 | $12,834 | 70.5% |
| Lee University, a private nonprofit university in Cleveland, reports median earnings of $41,882 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, with 33 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 50 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · Tallahassee, FL | $41,861 | $13,739 | $13,299 | 20.6% |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University admits 21% of applicants and its Advertising graduates earn a median of $41,861 four years after completing. | |||||
| 51 | Abilene Christian University · Abilene, TX | $37,568 | $26,182 | $20,285 | 66.0% |
| Abilene Christian University ranks 1153rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Advertising graduates earned a median of $37,568 four years after completing. | |||||
| 52 | Winthrop University · Rock Hill, SC | $33,459 | $15,343 | $12,608 | 79.3% |
| Winthrop University posts an average net price of $15,343 and its Advertising graduates earned a median of $33,459 four years after completing. | |||||
| 53 | Lynn University · Boca Raton, FL | $33,459 | $44,089 | $40,711 | 73.5% |
| Lynn University ranks 1418th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Advertising graduates earned a median of $33,459 four years after completing. | |||||
| 54 | West Texas A & M University · Canyon, TX | $32,284 | $19,487 | $16,525 | 98.7% |
| With an admission rate of 99%, West Texas A & M University reports median earnings of $32,284 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 55 | Barry University · Miami, FL | $29,685 | $22,613 | $20,804 | 77.2% |
| Barry University has an average net price of $20,804 for families earning under $30,000, and its Advertising graduates earned a median of $29,685 four years after completing. | |||||
| 56 | Union University · Jackson, TN | $26,353 | $27,171 | $25,839 | 60.4% |
| Union University reports median earnings of $26,353 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $27,171. | |||||
| 57 | Mississippi Valley State University · Itta Bena, MS | $24,421 | $9,686 | $9,073 | 92.4% |
| Mississippi Valley State University ranks 57th on this list, with median earnings of $24,421 for its Advertising graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $9,686. | |||||
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 South appear. The figure is the median for federally aided completers of the program who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 7 of the 57 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 Southern Methodist University and George Washington University is $3,871, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $64,909.
Related rankings
- Best Advertising Programs in the United States
- Best Colleges in the South
- Best Advertising Programs in the Northeast
- Best Advertising Programs in the Midwest
- Best Advertising Programs in the West
- Communication Colleges in the South for Social Mobility
- Communication Colleges in the South