Best colleges for Journalism in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Memphis, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Middle Tennessee State University are the top bachelor's Journalism programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. University of Memphis leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,820, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Middle Tennessee State University and University of Memphis award the most Journalism degrees in Tennessee: 129, 77 and 37 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Tennessee colleges offer Journalism and award 303 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Journalism program focuses on the principles and practices of reporting, writing, and broadcasting news. It is designed for students who are passionate about storytelling and wish to explore the diverse cultural values and ethical…
Top 3 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 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,820 | 37 | 51% | — | $26,875 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,082 | 129 | 74% | — | $22,849 |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,659 | 77 | 54% | — | $20,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Journalism 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 | 129 | $32,082 |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 77 | $30,659 |
| 3 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 37 | $32,820 |
| 4 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 5 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
| 6 | Union University Jackson Private not-for-profit | 9 | Not reported |
| 7 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale Private not-for-profit | 8 | Not reported |
| 8 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
| 9 | Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
| 10 | Johnson University Knoxville Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 Tennessee colleges offering Journalism
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists (SOC 27-3023).
Top skills
What News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Journalism programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Journalism degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (129 graduates a year), Middle Tennessee State University (77 graduates a year) and University of Memphis (37 graduates a year) award the most Journalism degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Tennessee colleges offer Journalism.
What is the best college for Journalism in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, University of Memphis leads among bachelor's Journalism programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,820, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Middle Tennessee State University follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest, with 129 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Journalism program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Memphis tops the list at $32,820. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists in Tennessee is $70,270 (median $62,390), across about 600 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Journalism program?+
The Journalism program focuses on the principles and practices of reporting, writing, and broadcasting news. It is designed for students who are passionate about storytelling and wish to explore the diverse cultural values and ethical…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, writing, reading comprehension, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists?+
The national job outlook is about -3.9% growth with around 4,100 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.
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