2027 Best Value Journalism Schools in Tennessee
[Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for journalism students.
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2027 Best Value Journalism Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in journalism, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Journalism Schools
Austin Peay State University tops our 2027 list of the best value journalism schools in Tennessee. 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. Journalism graduates carry a median of $24,530 in student loans. Journalism graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $44,360 early in their careers. Set against $24,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #2 makes Middle Tennessee State University one of the best values for journalism. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. 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 journalism graduates is $20,500. Journalism graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $30,659 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Memphis earned it the #3 place for journalism. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Students borrow a median of $26,875 to complete the journalism program here. Early-career journalism graduates make about $32,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee is a great value for students pursuing a degree in journalism, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Students borrow a median of $22,849 to complete the journalism program here. Journalism graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $32,082 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Belmont University earned it the #5 place for journalism. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete the journalism program here. Early-career journalism graduates make about $49,699. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 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.
