2027 Best Communication & Journalism Schools in Tennessee
Communication & Journalism is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for communication & journalism students pursuing a degree.
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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
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 school for communication & journalism. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 19 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.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Vanderbilt University
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the top schools for communication & journalism. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 537 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $39,990. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $21,716 in student loans.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at The University Of Tennessee
Lipscomb University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Lipscomb University graduates 72% of students within six years. About 26 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,253 to complete this degree.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Lipscomb University
A rank of #4 makes Belmont University one of the top schools for communication & journalism. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 76 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $41,889 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,125 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Belmont University
Freed Hardeman University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in communication & journalism, landing the #5 spot this year. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Freed Hardeman University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $54,530. Freed Hardeman University graduates carry a median of $24,479 in student loans.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Freed Hardeman University
Middle Tennessee State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. About 186 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $30,431. Students borrow a median of $21,443 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in communication & journalism from Middle Tennessee State University
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned the #7 position for communication & journalism this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 117 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn a median of $33,082 early in their careers. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $21,831 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Tennessee Technological University came in at #8 for communication & journalism this year. Tennessee Technological University is a large public school located in the town of Cookeville. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 13 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Tennessee Technological University 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
Southern Adventist University placed #9 among the best communication & journalism schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Collegedale. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at Southern Adventist University in the most recent year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Southern Adventist University earn a median of $61,366 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,498.
Get the full communication & journalism details for Southern Adventist University
East Tennessee State University came in at #10 for communication & journalism this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 72 communication & journalism degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent 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. East Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for East Tennessee State University
The University Of Tennessee Martin earned the #11 position for communication & journalism this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Martin. The University Of Tennessee Martin graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent data 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
University Of Memphis came in at #12 for communication & journalism this year. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Memphis awarded about 150 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $36,118. University Of Memphis graduates carry a median of $25,355 in student loans.
Get the full communication & journalism details for University Of Memphis
Austin Peay State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best communication & journalism schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. Austin Peay State University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 50 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Austin Peay State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $34,582. Austin Peay State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Austin Peay State University
Lee University earned the #14 position for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 40 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Lee University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, communication & journalism degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $32,247. Typical student debt for the program is $26,983.
Get the full communication & journalism details for Lee University
Bryan College Dayton earned the #15 position for communication & journalism this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Dayton. Bryan College Dayton graduates 50% of students within six years. Bryan College Dayton awarded about 13 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the communication & journalism program make about $44,067 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,652.
See the full communication & journalism program report for Bryan College Dayton
Tennessee State University placed #16 among the best communication & journalism schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 35% of students finish within six years. Tennessee State University awarded about 44 communication & journalism degrees in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $25,140 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $30,625.
Read more about the communication & journalism program at Tennessee State University
Lane College landed the #17 spot for communication & journalism this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Lane College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 18% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 communication & journalism students who graduated with this degree at Lane College in the most recent data year. Communication & Journalism graduates of Lane College earn a median of $26,497 early in their careers. Lane College graduates carry a median of $37,241 in student loans.
Get the full communication & journalism details for Lane College
More Communication & Journalism Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 17 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.
