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# Best Communication Colleges in Tennessee (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

This page ranks the 18 colleges in Tennessee that report a Communication earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Communication graduates four years after completing. [King University](/school/king-university/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $58,770 for its Communication graduates four years after completing, followed closely by [The University of Tennessee-Knoxville](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/majors/) at $58,389.

Across the listed schools, the figure ranges from $58,770 to $26,353, with a median of $44,203. For 2 of the 18 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list is evenly split between 9 public and 9 private nonprofit institutions. Austin Peay State University posts the lowest average net price at $9,735, while Vanderbilt University ranks 62nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and also reports the highest six-year completion rate, graduating 94% of its students within six years.

## The ranked list

18 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median Communication Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | King University · Bristol, TN | $58,770 | $22,347 | $22,696 | 99.7% |
|  | [King University](/school/king-university/majors/) reports [$58,770 in median earnings](/school/king-university/outcomes/) of Communication graduates four years after completing and admits 100% of applicants. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (16 graduates) |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN | $58,389 | $18,976 | $10,029 | 41.6% |
|  | With a [six-year completion rate of 74%](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/outcomes/), [The University of Tennessee-Knoxville](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-knoxville/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (132 graduates), Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (122 graduates), Journalism (82 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($63,314), Communication and Media Studies ($57,394), Journalism ($52,663) |
| 3 | Belmont University · Nashville, TN | $54,666 | $33,147 | $22,950 | 95.3% |
|  | Belmont University shows an average net price of $33,147 alongside median earnings of $54,666 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (48 graduates), Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (23 graduates), Journalism (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($48,737) |
| 4 | University of Memphis · Memphis, TN | $48,467 | $12,397 | $10,607 | 72.0% |
|  | [University of Memphis](/school/university-of-memphis/majors/) [ranks 224th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-memphis/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts a six-year completion rate of 51%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (72 graduates), Journalism (42 graduates), Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (39 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Journalism ($49,445), Communication and Media Studies ($42,605) |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga · Chattanooga, TN | $48,212 | $14,265 | $9,876 | 81.1% |
|  | [The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-chattanooga/majors/) reports [$48,212 in median earnings](/school/the-university-of-tennessee-chattanooga/outcomes/) of Communication graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $14,265. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (107 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($48,212) |
| 6 | Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN | $47,093 | $13,359 | $9,289 | 69.1% |
|  | [Middle Tennessee State University](/school/middle-tennessee-state-university/majors/) [admits 69% of applicants](/school/middle-tennessee-state-university/admissions/) and its Communication graduates earn a median of $47,093 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (104 graduates), Journalism (71 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($45,155) |
| 7 | Carson-Newman University · Jefferson City, TN | $46,614 | $20,251 | $16,672 | 90.5% |
|  | Carson-Newman University ranks 7th on this list, with an average net price of $16,672 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (11 graduates) |
| 8 | Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN | $45,909 | $14,246 | $9,815 | 76.1% |
|  | [Tennessee Technological University](/school/tennessee-technological-university/majors/) reports a [six-year completion rate of 58%](/school/tennessee-technological-university/outcomes/) and median earnings of $45,909 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other (32 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other ($45,909) |
| 9 | The University of Tennessee-Martin · Martin, TN | $44,231 | $10,701 | $7,151 | 88.2% |
|  | The University of Tennessee-Martin shows an average net price of $7,151 for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 625th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($44,231) |
| 10 | Milligan University · Milligan, TN | $44,175 | $21,365 | $15,118 | 72.3% |
|  | Milligan University admits 72% of applicants and reports $44,175 in median earnings of Communication graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (10 graduates) |
| 11 | Austin Peay State University · Clarksville, TN | $43,511 | $9,735 | $7,588 | 96.4% |
|  | [Austin Peay State University](/school/austin-peay-state-university/majors/) ranks 11th on this list, with a [six-year completion rate of 40%](/school/austin-peay-state-university/outcomes/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (48 graduates), Journalism (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($43,511) |
| 12 | Tennessee State University · Nashville, TN | $43,121 | $15,796 | $15,005 | 70.1% |
|  | [Tennessee State University](/school/tennessee-state-university/majors/) reports [$43,121 in median earnings](/school/tennessee-state-university/outcomes/) of Communication graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $15,005 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (43 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($43,121) |
| 13 | Lee University · Cleveland, TN | $42,869 | $18,878 | $12,834 | 70.5% |
|  | Lee University reports median earnings of $42,869 for its Communication graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 63%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (33 graduates), Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (25 graduates), Communication and Media Studies (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($43,241), Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($41,882) |
| 14 | Vanderbilt University · Nashville, TN | $41,937 | $15,846 | $3,414 | 5.9% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Nashville, [Vanderbilt University](/school/vanderbilt-university/majors/) [admits 6% of applicants](/school/vanderbilt-university/admissions/) and posts a six-year completion rate of 94%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (28 graduates) |
| 15 | East Tennessee State University · Johnson City, TN | $41,570 | $15,983 | $12,433 | 86.2% |
|  | [East Tennessee State University](/school/east-tennessee-state-university/majors/) ranks 15th on this list, with Communication graduates earning a [median of $41,570](/school/east-tennessee-state-university/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (73 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Communication and Media Studies ($41,570) |
| 16 | Trevecca Nazarene University · Nashville, TN | $36,070 | $16,813 | $14,532 | 69.4% |
|  | With an average net price of $16,813, Trevecca Nazarene University reports median earnings of $36,070 for its Communication graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (10 graduates) |
| 17 | Bryan College-Dayton · Dayton, TN | $32,530 | $20,614 | $19,500 | Not reported |
|  | Bryan College-Dayton shows a six-year completion rate of 50% and an average net price of $20,614. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Communication and Media Studies (10 graduates) |
| 18 | Union University · Jackson, TN | $26,353 | $27,171 | $25,839 | 60.4% |
|  | Union University reports median earnings of $26,353 for its Communication graduates two years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 60%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Journalism (6 graduates), Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (5 graduates) |

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Communication graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Communication earnings cohort in Tennessee appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 2 of the 18 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from King University at $58,770 to the lowest listed value of $26,353 spans $32,417, with a gap of just $381 between King University and The University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Communication Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-communication-colleges/)
-   [Best Colleges in Tennessee](/rankings/best-colleges-in-tennessee/)
-   [Best Communication Colleges in California](/rankings/best-communication-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Communication Colleges in Connecticut](/rankings/best-communication-colleges-in-connecticut/)
-   [Best Communication Colleges in Texas](/rankings/best-communication-colleges-in-texas/)
-   [Best Communication Colleges in Kentucky](/rankings/best-communication-colleges-in-kentucky/)
-   Communication Colleges in Tennessee for Social Mobility