2026 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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for journalism students.
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2026 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
Our analysis ranked Middle Tennessee State University the best value for a degree in journalism in Tennessee. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Journalism graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, 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. The acceptance rate is 69%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Memphis earned it the #2 place for journalism. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $32,820. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in journalism will find it at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #3. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Journalism graduates carry a median of $22,849 in student loans. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $32,082. Set against $22,849 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Austin Peay State University one of the best values for journalism. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. Students from in state pay about $9,006 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Students borrow a median of $24,530 to complete the journalism program here. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $44,360. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #5 makes Belmont University one of the best values for journalism. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Journalism graduates carry a median of $23,447 in student loans. Early-career journalism graduates make about $49,699. Set against $23,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Belmont University admits about 95% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 13 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.
