Best colleges for Communication and Media Studies in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Belmont University, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga are the top bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. Belmont University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,889, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and Middle Tennessee State University award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Tennessee: 237, 117 and 97 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Tennessee colleges offer Communication and Media Studies and award 798 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,889 | 31 | 71% | $29,246 | $22,125 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,258 | 237 | 74% | — | $20,875 |
| 3 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,082 | 117 | 50% | — | $21,831 |
| 4 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,877 | 97 | 54% | — | $24,329 |
| 5 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,380 | 72 | 53% | — | $23,250 |
| 6 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,922 | 75 | 51% | — | $23,381 |
| 7 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,643 | 27 | 40% | — | $25,000 |
| 8 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,140 | 44 | 34% | — | $30,625 |
| 9 | Carson-Newman University Jefferson City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,221 | 5 | 53% | $19,537 | $20,235 |
| 10 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,365 | 8 | 63% | $18,918 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Tennessee
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 237 | $41,258 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 117 | $33,082 |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 97 | $29,877 |
| 4 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 75 | $26,922 |
| 5 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 72 | $27,380 |
| 6 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public | 44 | $25,140 |
| 7 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 31 | $41,889 |
| 8 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 27 | $25,643 |
| 9 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
| 10 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public | 14 | $26,803 |
ShowHide the other 11 Tennessee colleges offering Communication and Media Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan College - Dayton | Dayton | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Lane College | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Rhodes College | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Tusculum University | Greeneville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Public Relations Specialists (SOC 27-3031).
Top skills
What Public Relations Specialists earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Communication and Media Studies programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (237 graduates a year), The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (117 graduates a year) and Middle Tennessee State University (97 graduates a year) award the most Communication and Media Studies degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Tennessee colleges offer Communication and Media Studies.
What is the best college for Communication and Media Studies in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, Belmont University leads among bachelor's Communication and Media Studies programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,889, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest, with 237 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Communication and Media Studies program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Belmont University tops the list at $41,889. Compare it against graduates a year, 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).
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Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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