Tennessee · Communication and Media Studies

Best institutions to study Communication and Media Studies in Tennessee

The Communication and Media Studies program focuses on the processes of human communication and behavior, exploring how individuals and groups exchange ideas and information across various media. This program is designed for students…

Institutions
21
offering CIP 09.01
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
798
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$27,380
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
12
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,418
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
55%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Public Relations Specialists
$65,360
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Belmont University
Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$41,8893171%$29,246$22,125
2The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,25823774%$20,875
3The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
Chattanooga Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,08211750%$21,831
4Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,8779754%$24,329
5Carson - Newman University
Jefferson City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$28,221553%$19,537$20,235
6East Tennessee State University
Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree
$27,3807253%$23,250
7Lee University
Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$27,365863%$18,918
8Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$27,053653%$14,286$21,625
9University of Memphis
Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree
$26,9227551%$23,381
10The University of Tennessee - Martin
Martin Public · Bachelor's degree
$26,8031453%$24,481

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.8%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~27,600
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$69,780
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Active ListeningSpeakingWritingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive Learning

What Public Relations Specialists earn in Tennessee

Jobs in Tennessee
3,380
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$65,360
median $60,900
Best-paying metro
$67,880
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

Related careers

Public Relations Specialists
$65,360 avg · 3,380 jobs
Fundraisers
$65,540 avg · 1,930 jobs
Editors
$66,960 avg · 1,390 jobs
Writers and Authors
$66,180 avg · 1,260 jobs
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
$63,190 avg · 970 jobs
Public Relations Managers
$131,930 avg · 700 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Tennessee.

Which Communication and Media Studies program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Belmont University tops the list at $41,889. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Public Relations Specialists earn in Tennessee?+

The average annual wage for Public Relations Specialists in Tennessee is $65,360 (median $60,900), across about 3,380 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Communication and Media Studies program?+

The Communication and Media Studies program focuses on the processes of human communication and behavior, exploring how individuals and groups exchange ideas and information across various media. This program is designed for students…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop active listening, speaking, writing, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Public Relations Specialists?+

The national job outlook is about +4.8% growth with around 27,600 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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