Best Communications Colleges in Tennessee2026 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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| # | 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 | Lincoln Memorial UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 59% | 54% | $19,591 | $54,326 | 9:1 | 35 | 1,487 |
| 4 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvillePublic | Strong· 36 | 46% | 74% | $18,820 | $41,258 | 18:1 | 99 | 28,763 |
| 5 | Lee UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 72% | 61% | $16,890 | $27,365 | 12:1 | 58 | 2,712 |
| 6 | Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 59% | 44% | $14,610 | $41,284 | 12:1 | 39 | 832 |
| 7 | Le Moyne-Owen CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 97% | 25% | $9,198 | — | 9:1 | 25 | 571 |
| 8 | Johnson UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 54% | 62% | $18,930 | $34,857 | 11:1 | 28 | 703 |
| 9 | Milligan UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 70% | 60% | $20,830 | $39,739 | 9:1 | 36 | 783 |
| 10 | Christian Brothers UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 88% | 56% | $12,547 | $50,114 | 9:1 | 60 | 953 |
| 11 | Lipscomb UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 67% | 69% | $23,820 | $31,767 | 13:1 | 75 | 3,021 |
| 12 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 68% | 54% | $12,840 | $29,877 | 17:1 | 72 | 16,115 |
| 13 | The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaPublic | 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 | Tennessee Technological UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 83% | 54% | $14,405 | $28,828 | 16:1 | 41 | 8,495 |
| 16 | Tennessee State UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 93% | 33% | $11,079 | $25,140 | 13:1 | 34 | 6,498 |
| 17 | Freed-Hardeman UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 91% | 68% | $19,533 | $39,905 | 13:1 | 39 | 1,244 |
| 18 | King UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 54% | 46% | $21,500 | $43,075 | 12:1 | 42 | 975 |
| 19 | The University of Tennessee-MartinPublic | Good· 32 | 87% | 55% | $12,457 | $26,803 | 15:1 | 39 | 4,600 |
| 20 | Belmont UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 96% | 72% | $27,345 | $41,889 | 12:1 | 65 | 7,306 |
| 21 | Trevecca Nazarene UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 70% | 55% | $12,303 | $27,053 | 22:1 | 51 | 1,697 |
| 22 | Austin Peay State UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 96% | 45% | $16,365 | $25,643 | 15:1 | 40 | 7,365 |
| 23 | University of MemphisPublic | Good· 30 | 93% | 49% | $15,357 | $26,922 | 17:1 | 50 | 13,645 |
| 24 | Southern Adventist UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 67% | 51% | $23,907 | $45,366 | 16:1 | 83 | 2,673 |
| 25 | East Tennessee State UniversityPublic | 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 | The University of Tennessee Health Science CenterPublic | Weak· 18 | — | — | — | $19,480 | 7:1 | 13 | 376 |
| 30 | Lane CollegePrivate | Weak· 18 | — | 17% | $23,608 | $25,137 | 17:1 | 16 | 822 |