2026 Best Value Communications Schools in Tennessee
[Communications](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/communications/) 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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for communications students.
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2026 Best Value Communications Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in communications, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Communications Schools
Tennessee State University tops our 2026 list of the best value communications schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,416 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $30,625. Early-career communications graduates make about $25,140. That is a strong return on a $30,625 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communications will find it at The University Of Tennessee Martin, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communications graduates is $24,481. Early-career communications graduates make about $26,803. Set against $24,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned it the #3 place for communications. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,448, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Communications graduates carry a median of $21,831 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $33,082. That is a strong return on a $21,831 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
East Tennessee State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value communications schools. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. In-state tuition and fees average $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the communications program here. Communications graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $33,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
More Communications Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
