Best value colleges for Communications in Tennessee.2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Communications program in Tennessee means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 31 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: Vanderbilt University leads on selectivity (6% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across Tennessee's Communications programs, the typical in-state price is $23,496 and the average graduation rate is 54%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $33,327 within one year of completing their degree.
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ranked by value score
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | Elite· 51 | 6% | 93% | $6,211 | $68,884 | 7:1 | 51 | 7,143 |
| 2 | Union UniversityPrivate | Great· 38 | 47% | 71% | $25,531 | $53,098 | 8:1 | 60 | 1,637 |
| 3 | Johnson UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 54% | 62% | $18,930 | $34,857 | 11:1 | 28 | 703 |
| 4 | Le Moyne-Owen CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 97% | 25% | $9,198 | — | 9:1 | 25 | 571 |
| 5 | Lee UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 72% | 61% | $16,890 | $27,365 | 12:1 | 58 | 2,712 |
| 6 | Lincoln Memorial UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 59% | 54% | $19,591 | $54,326 | 9:1 | 35 | 1,487 |
| 7 | Strong· 36 | 59% | 44% | $14,610 | $41,284 | 12:1 | 39 | 832 | |
| 8 | Strong· 36 | 46% | 74% | $18,820 | $41,258 | 18:1 | 99 | 28,763 | |
| 9 | Strong· 35 | 88% | 56% | $12,547 | $50,114 | 9:1 | 60 | 953 | |
| 10 | Lipscomb UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 67% | 69% | $23,820 | $31,767 | 13:1 | 75 | 3,021 |
| 11 | Milligan UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 70% | 60% | $20,830 | $39,739 | 9:1 | 36 | 783 |
| 12 | Strong· 34 | 68% | 54% | $12,840 | $29,877 | 17:1 | 72 | 16,115 | |
| 13 | Strong· 34 | 77% | 53% | $12,478 | $33,082 | 17:1 | 47 | 9,878 | |
| 14 | Carson-Newman UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 68% | 46% | $17,326 | $28,221 | 12:1 | 64 | 1,374 |
| 15 | Freed-Hardeman UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 91% | 68% | $19,533 | $39,905 | 13:1 | 39 | 1,244 |
| 16 | King UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 54% | 46% | $21,500 | $43,075 | 12:1 | 42 | 975 |
| 17 | Good· 33 | 93% | 33% | $11,079 | $25,140 | 13:1 | 34 | 6,498 | |
| 18 | Good· 33 | 83% | 54% | $14,405 | $28,828 | 16:1 | 41 | 8,495 | |
| 19 | Belmont UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 96% | 72% | $27,345 | $41,889 | 12:1 | 65 | 7,306 |
| 20 | Good· 32 | 87% | 55% | $12,457 | $26,803 | 15:1 | 39 | 4,600 | |
| 21 | Good· 31 | 96% | 45% | $16,365 | $25,643 | 15:1 | 40 | 7,365 | |
| 22 | Trevecca Nazarene UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 70% | 55% | $12,303 | $27,053 | 22:1 | 51 | 1,697 |
| 23 | Good· 30 | 67% | 51% | $23,907 | $45,366 | 16:1 | 83 | 2,673 | |
| 24 | University of MemphisPublic | Good· 30 | 93% | 49% | $15,357 | $26,922 | 17:1 | 50 | 13,645 |
| 25 | Average· 29 | 87% | 50% | $16,944 | $27,380 | 18:1 | 51 | 9,807 | |
| 26 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | Average· 27 | 97% | 35% | $21,838 | $48,196 | 17:1 | 36 | 1,671 |
| 27 | Bryan College-DaytonPrivate | Average· 26 | — | 56% | $15,443 | $38,617 | 13:1 | 32 | 815 |
| 28 | Visible Music CollegePrivate | Fair· 24 | 29% | 48% | $24,847 | $29,082 | 6:1 | 8 | 164 |
| 29 | Lane CollegePrivate | Weak· 18 | — | 17% | $23,608 | $25,137 | 17:1 | 16 | 822 |
| 30 | Weak· 18 | — | — | — | $19,480 | 7:1 | 13 | 376 |