2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Tennessee
[Communication & Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/) 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 17 schools to find the best return on investment for communication & journalism students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communication & journalism degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Communication & Journalism Schools
Austin Peay State University tops our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,006 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,766. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $34,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at The University Of Tennessee Martin, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,560, with out-of-state students paying around $16,600. Students borrow a median of $24,481 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $26,803. Set against $24,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. 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, compared with $31,574 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,443 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $30,431. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at University Of Memphis, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,384 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,355 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $36,118 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in communication & journalism will find it at Tennessee Technological University, which ranked #5. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. Students from in state pay about $11,376 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,576 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $19,362. Communication & Journalism graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $28,828 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Vanderbilt University landed the #6 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga landed the #7 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Set in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,448 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,831 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Early-career communication & journalism graduates make about $33,082. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Lane College came in at #8 for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Jackson, Lane College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,790. Students borrow a median of $37,241 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Lane College earn a median of $26,497 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #9 position for value in communication & journalism this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $21,716. Communication & Journalism graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $39,990 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,716 median debt. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
East Tennessee State University earned the #10 position for value in communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,216 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $33,111. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Tennessee State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $22,416. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $30,625. Communication & Journalism graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $25,140 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $23,790. Students borrow a median of $26,983 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $32,247. Set against $26,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Bryan College Dayton landed the #13 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Located in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,800. Students borrow a median of $25,652 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Bryan College Dayton earn a median of $44,067 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Freed Hardeman University placed #14 among the best values for communication & journalism. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,479 to complete the communication & journalism program here. Communication & Journalism graduates of Freed Hardeman University earn a median of $54,530 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,479 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Southern Adventist University came in at #15 for value in communication & journalism this year. 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. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $25,498. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $61,366. That is a strong return on a $25,498 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Lipscomb University landed the #16 spot for communication & journalism value this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Typical student debt for communication & journalism graduates is $21,253. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
Belmont University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $42,540 in tuition and fees. Communication & Journalism graduates carry a median of $22,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $41,889. Set against $22,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
More Communication & Journalism Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
