2026 Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Tennessee
Communication & Journalism programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools to find the best for communication & journalism students.
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Best Schools for Communication & Journalism in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall communication & journalism education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Communication & Journalism
Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in communication & journalism. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 20 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Vanderbilt University
The University Of Tennessee is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 525 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $39,920 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $21,716 in student loans.
Get the full communication & journalism details for The University Of Tennessee
Lipscomb University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Lipscomb University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Lipscomb University earn around $48,949 in the first couple years of their career. Lipscomb University graduates carry a median of $21,253 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Lipscomb University
Union University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in communication & journalism, ranking #4. Located in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Union University graduates 66% of students within six years. Union University awarded about 20 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Union University earn around $68,508 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,605.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at Union University
Belmont University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Belmont University graduates 70% of students within six years. Belmont University awarded about 85 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Belmont University earn around $41,889 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,125 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Belmont University
Freed Hardeman University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Freed Hardeman University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Freed Hardeman University earn a median of $54,530 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,479.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Freed Hardeman University
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #7 for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 219 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $30,442 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,443 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Middle Tennessee State University
Tennessee Technological University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 15 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Tennessee Technological University earn around $28,828 in the first couple years of their career. Tennessee Technological University graduates carry a median of $19,362 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Tennessee Technological University
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga placed #9 among the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga awarded about 111 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $33,082 in their early career. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $21,831 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Bryan College Dayton ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the town of Dayton, Bryan College Dayton is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Bryan College Dayton in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Bryan College Dayton earn a median of $44,067 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,652 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & journalism details for Bryan College Dayton
East Tennessee State University earned the #11 position for communication & journalism this year. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. East Tennessee State University graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 69 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at East Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from East Tennessee State University earn around $33,111 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at East Tennessee State University
The University Of Tennessee Martin landed the #12 spot for communication & journalism this year. Located in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $26,803 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,481 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from The University Of Tennessee Martin
Carson Newman College earned the #13 position for communication & journalism this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Jefferson City. Carson Newman College graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Carson Newman College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Carson Newman College earn around $28,221 in the first couple years of their career. Carson Newman College graduates carry a median of $20,235 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Carson Newman College
University Of Memphis came in at #14 for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. University Of Memphis graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 164 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at University Of Memphis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $36,135 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,355.
See the full communication & journalism program report for University Of Memphis
Lee University earned the #15 position for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 41 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Lee University in the most recent year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Lee University earn around $32,287 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,983 to complete this degree.
Get the full communication & journalism details for Lee University
Austin Peay State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Austin Peay State University is a large public school located in the city of Clarksville. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. About 55 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Austin Peay State University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Austin Peay State University earn a median of $34,582 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Austin Peay State University
Tennessee State University placed #17 among the best communication & journalism schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tennessee State University awarded about 34 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their communication & journalism degree from Tennessee State University earn around $25,140 in the first couple years of their career. Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $30,625 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Tennessee State University
More Communication & Journalism Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 30 schools evaluated.
- 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.
