Best colleges for Public Relations in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, University of Memphis and Belmont University award the most Public Relations degrees in Tennessee: 171, 38 and 25 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 12 Tennessee colleges offer Public Relations and award 302 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Public Relations program, formally known as Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, focuses on managing and disseminating information to influence public perception. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…
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 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,173 | 171 | 74% | — | $21,368 |
| 2 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,819 | 38 | 51% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,162 | 14 | 63% | $18,918 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Public Relations 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 | 171 | $42,173 |
| 2 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 38 | $39,819 |
| 3 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 25 | Not reported |
| 4 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
| 5 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 14 | $33,162 |
| 6 | Freed-Hardeman University Henderson Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
| 7 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
| 8 | Union University Jackson Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
| 9 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public | 4 | Not reported |
| 10 | Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 2 Tennessee colleges offering Public Relations
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Maryville College | Maryville | 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 Public Relations programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Public Relations degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (171 graduates a year), University of Memphis (38 graduates a year) and Belmont University (25 graduates a year) award the most Public Relations degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 12 Tennessee colleges offer Public Relations.
Which Public Relations program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville tops the list at $42,173. 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 Public Relations program?+
The Public Relations program, formally known as Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, focuses on managing and disseminating information to influence public perception. This program is ideal for individuals interested in…
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.
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