2027 Best Value General Journalism Schools in Tennessee

[General Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/general-journalism/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general journalism education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general journalism schools.
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2027 Best Value General Journalism Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Journalism Schools
Austin Peay State University earned the #1 spot for value among general journalism schools in Tennessee. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,006, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Students borrow a median of $24,530 to complete the general journalism program here. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $44,360. Set against $24,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Austin Peay State University admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middle Tennessee State University earned it the #2 place for general journalism. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,574. Typical student debt for general journalism graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $30,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Memphis one of the best values for general journalism. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Typical student debt for general journalism graduates is $26,875. Soon after graduation, general journalism degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $32,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value general journalism schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. General Journalism graduates carry a median of $22,849 in student loans. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $32,082. That is a strong return on a $22,849 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Belmont University earned it the #5 place for general journalism. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete the general journalism program here. Early-career general journalism graduates make about $49,699. That is a strong return on a $23,447 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
More General Journalism Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 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.