2027 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Tennessee
[Public Relations & Advertising](/majors/communication-journalism-media/public-relations-advertising/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for public relations & advertising students.
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2027 Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public relations & advertising degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Relations & Advertising Schools
Leading the list is University Of Memphis, our #1 best value for public relations & advertising in Tennessee. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,728, while out-of-state students pay about $15,384. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $39,819 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public relations & advertising will find it at The University Of Tennessee, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, while out-of-state students pay about $33,256. Students borrow a median of $21,368 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Public Relations & Advertising graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $42,173 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,368 median debt. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lee University earned it the #3 place for public relations & advertising. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,790. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the public relations & advertising program here. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $33,162. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Freed Hardeman University one of the best values for public relations & advertising. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,620. Typical student debt for public relations & advertising graduates is $24,479. Early-career public relations & advertising graduates make about $54,530. That is a strong return on a $24,479 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Southern Adventist University one of the best values for public relations & advertising. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,300. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $25,498 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $61,366. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University came in at #6 for value in public relations & advertising this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Public Relations & Advertising graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Belmont University landed the #7 spot for public relations & advertising value this year. 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 public relations & advertising graduates is $23,447. Soon after graduation, public relations & advertising degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $49,699. Set against $23,447 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
