2027 Best Value Marketing Schools in Tennessee
[Marketing](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/marketing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for marketing students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Marketing Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the marketing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Marketing Schools
For return on investment in marketing, no school beat Austin Peay State University this year. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,006 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,766 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,291 to complete the marketing program here. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $31,334. Set against $23,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Christian Brothers University one of the best values for marketing. Christian Brothers University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Memphis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,420. Marketing graduates carry a median of $32,416 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Christian Brothers University generally make around $51,040. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Christian Brothers University admits about 87% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middle Tennessee State University earned it the #3 place for marketing. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $20,708. Early-career marketing graduates make about $43,612. Set against $20,708 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee Martin is a great value for students pursuing a degree in marketing, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Marketing graduates carry a median of $17,548 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $36,397. Set against $17,548 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Memphis one of the best values for marketing. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Marketing graduates carry a median of $21,904 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $43,986. That is a strong return on a $21,904 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned the #6 position for value in marketing this year. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Students from in state pay about $10,448 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,512. Students borrow a median of $23,324 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $50,000. That is a strong return on a $23,324 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Tennessee Technological University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Students borrow a median of $17,425 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $39,990. That is a strong return on a $17,425 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee Wesleyan College placed #8 among the best values for marketing. Located in the town of Athens, Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,814. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $58,859. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tennessee Wesleyan College admits about 69% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $21,819. Early-career marketing graduates make about $35,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #10 spot for marketing value this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,300. Students borrow a median of $24,962 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $52,004. That is a strong return on a $24,962 median debt. Trevecca Nazarene University admits about 69% of applicants.
Cumberland University placed #11 among the best values for marketing. Located in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,840. Marketing graduates carry a median of $21,902 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $47,696. Set against $21,902 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cumberland University admits about 67% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee placed #12 among the best values for marketing. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Marketing graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Marketing graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $46,896 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University placed #13 among the best values for marketing. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $23,790. Marketing graduates carry a median of $26,422 in student loans. Marketing graduates of Lee University earn a median of $38,249 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,422 median debt. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
Freed Hardeman University placed #14 among the best values for marketing. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,620. Marketing graduates carry a median of $24,479 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $54,530. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University landed the #15 spot for marketing value this year. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $40,572 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $24,625. Early-career marketing graduates make about $41,660. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Union University came in at #16 for value in marketing this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,398. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the marketing program here. Marketing graduates of Union University earn a median of $38,886 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Belmont University earned the #17 position for value in marketing this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,540. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $23,447. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $46,968. That is a strong return on a $23,447 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
