2027 Best Value Speech Communication Schools in Tennessee

[Speech Communication](/majors/communication-journalism-media/communication-media-studies/speech-communication/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value speech communication schools.
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2027 Best Value Speech Communication Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the speech communication degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Speech Communication Schools
Our analysis ranked Vanderbilt University the best value for a degree in speech communication in Tennessee. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Speech Communication graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the best values for speech communication. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Students borrow a median of $24,329 to complete the speech communication program here. Speech Communication graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $29,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,329 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Students looking for strong value in speech communication will find it at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $20,875. Speech Communication graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $41,258 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Bryan College Dayton came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value speech communication schools. Set in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $19,800 in tuition and fees. Speech Communication graduates carry a median of $25,652 in student loans. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $44,067. Set against $25,652 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Belmont University earned it the #5 place for speech communication. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $42,540. Typical student debt for speech communication graduates is $22,125. Early-career speech communication graduates make about $41,889. Set against $22,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.