Best Communications Teacher, Postsecondary programs in Tennessee, ranked by enrollment
Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism.
28 schools in Tennessee run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,425 people a year. The job pays a median of $66,630 in Tennessee across about 440 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Tennessee that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
16 programs in Tennessee that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Tennessee (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Tennessee page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 09.0102In Tennessee → | 368 | 25.8% | 9 | $34,858 | $25,000 |
| 2 | CIP 09.0401In Tennessee → | 289 | 20.3% | 8 | $34,515 | $24,250 |
| 3 | CIP 09.0101In Tennessee → | 248 | 17.4% | 11 | $34,858 | $25,000 |
| 4 | CIP 09.0100In Tennessee → | 165 | 11.6% | 4 | $34,858 | $25,000 |
| 5 | CIP 09.0902In Tennessee → | 137 | 9.6% | 6 | $39,658 | $24,500 |
| 6 | CIP 09.0903In Tennessee → | 103 | 7.2% | 5 | $39,658 | $24,500 |
| 7 | CIP 09.0702In Tennessee → | 40 | 2.8% | 5 | $29,112 | $23,836 |
| 8 | CIP 09.0900In Tennessee → | 24 | 1.7% | 2 | $39,658 | $24,500 |
| 9 | CIP 09.9999In Tennessee → | 16 | 1.1% | 3 | $36,931 | $24,500 |
| 10 | CIP 09.0499In Tennessee → | 8 | 0.6% | 3 | $34,515 | $24,250 |
| 11 | CIP 09.0906In Tennessee → | 7 | 0.5% | 2 | $39,658 | $24,500 |
| 12 | CIP 09.0402In Tennessee → | 6 | 0.4% | 2 | $34,515 | $24,250 |
| 13 | CIP 52.0501In Tennessee → | 6 | 0.4% | 1 | $41,000 | $26,000 |
| 14 | CIP 09.0701In Tennessee → | 5 | 0.4% | 1 | $29,112 | $23,836 |
| 15 | CIP 09.0905In Tennessee → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $39,658 | $24,500 |
| 16 | CIP 09.0907In Tennessee → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $39,658 | $24,500 |
Top 25 schools in Tennessee
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 13 of the 28 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TN Public · 5 feeder programs | 537 | Journalism | $32,082 | 74% | — | 42% |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Public · 4 feeder programs | 186 | Journalism | $30,659 | 54% | — | 69% |
| 3 | University of Memphis Memphis, TN Public · 6 feeder programs | 150 | Mass Communication/Media Studies | $26,922 | 51% | — | 72% |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 117 | Communication, General | $33,082 | 50% | — | 81% |
| 5 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 72 | Mass Communication/Media Studies | $27,380 | 53% | — | 86% |
| 6 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN Public · 3 feeder programs | 50 | Mass Communication/Media Studies | $25,643 | 40% | — | 96% |
| 7 | Tennessee State University Nashville, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 44 | Communication, General | $25,140 | 34% | — | 70% |
| 8 | Belmont University Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 40 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | $41,889 | 71% | $29,246 | 95% |
| 9 | Lee University Cleveland, TN Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 40 | Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia | $26,537 | 63% | $18,918 | 71% |
| 10 | Lipscomb University Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 25 | Public Relations/Image Management | — | 72% | $24,309 | 68% |
| 11 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TN Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 21 | Public Relations/Image Management | — | 49% | $24,187 | 65% |
| 12 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 19 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | — | 94% | $14,854 | 6% |
| 13 | Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 15 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | $27,053 | 53% | $14,286 | 69% |
| 14 | Union University Jackson, TN Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 15 | Journalism | — | 66% | $25,882 | 60% |
| 15 | Freed - Hardeman University Henderson, TN Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 14 | Public Relations/Image Management | — | 71% | $19,418 | 60% |
| 16 | The University of Tennessee - Martin Martin, TN Public · 2 feeder programs | 14 | Mass Communication/Media Studies | $26,803 | 53% | — | 88% |
| 17 | Bryan College - Dayton Dayton, TN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 13 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | — | 50% | $16,130 | — |
| 18 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 13 | Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $28,828 | 58% | — | 76% |
| 19 | Lane College Jackson, TN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 12 | Mass Communication/Media Studies | — | 18% | $14,494 | — |
| 20 | Christian Brothers University Memphis, TN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 6 | Business/Corporate Communications, General | — | 55% | $11,063 | 87% |
| 21 | Carson - Newman University Jefferson City, TN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Speech Communication and Rhetoric | $28,221 | 53% | $19,537 | 90% |
| 22 | Visible Music College Memphis, TN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia | — | 23% | $26,266 | 28% |
| 23 | Milligan University Milligan, TN Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 4 | Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia | — | 63% | $19,143 | 72% |
| 24 | Tusculum University Greeneville, TN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Communication, General | — | 25% | $22,577 | 72% |
| 25 | Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens, TN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Sports Communication | — | 48% | $14,614 | 69% |
All 28 schools in Tennessee
Every school in Tennessee with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee - Knoxville | Knoxville | Public | 537 | 5 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro | Public | 186 | 4 |
| University of Memphis | Memphis | Public | 150 | 6 |
| The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Public | 117 | 1 |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Public | 72 | 1 |
| Austin Peay State University | Clarksville | Public | 50 | 3 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville | Public | 44 | 1 |
| Belmont University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 40 | 5 |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 40 | 4 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 25 | 4 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 21 | 6 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 19 | 1 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 15 | 4 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 15 | 2 |
| Freed - Hardeman University | Henderson | Private not-for-profit | 14 | 2 |
What communications teachers, postsecondary earn in Tennessee
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $78,580. Tennessee pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Tennessee
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Communications Teachers, Postsecondary page.
How to become a Communications Teacher, Postsecondary
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Tennessee
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 23 majors mapped to Communications Teachers, Postsecondary22 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 09.0100Communication, General
- 09.0101Speech Communication and Rhetoric
- 09.0102Mass Communication/Media Studies
- 09.0401Journalism
- 09.0402Broadcast Journalism
- 09.0405Business and Economic Journalism(no graduates reported)
- 09.0406Cultural Journalism
- 09.0407Science/Health/Environmental Journalism
- 09.0499Journalism, Other
- 09.0701Radio and Television
- 09.0702Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
- 09.0900Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
- 09.0902Public Relations/Image Management
- 09.0903Advertising
- 09.0904Political Communication
- 09.0905Health Communication
- 09.0906Sports Communication
- 09.0907International and Intercultural Communication
- 09.0908Technical and Scientific Communication
- 09.9999Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
- 50.0607Documentary Production
- 52.0501Business/Corporate Communications, General
- 52.0599Business/Corporate Communications, Other
Common questions
Answers for people weighing communications teachers, postsecondary programs in Tennessee.
What degree do you need to become a Communications Teacher, Postsecondary?+
Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Mass Communication/Media Studies, which awarded 368 degrees in Tennessee in 2024-25, 25.8% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Communications Teacher, Postsecondary?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 16 programs to this occupation. The largest are Communication and Media Studies, Journalism, Public Relations, Radio, plus 2 more. Together they graduate about 1,425 people a year in Tennessee.
How much do communications teachers, postsecondary earn in Tennessee?+
The median is $66,630 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 15.2% below the U.S. median of $78,580. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for communications teachers, postsecondary growing?+
BLS projects a +2.1% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 2,700 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Tennessee?+
28 institutions in Tennessee reported graduates from at least one of the 16 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do communications teachers, postsecondary work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Professor, Instructor, Communication Professor, Communication Instructor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-1122.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card