Best colleges for communications and journalism in Tennessee
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in communication, journalism, or a related field, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for communications and journalism in Tennessee29 schools
29 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Tennessee.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in communication and journalism, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
- 2
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B
- 3
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 4
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#5 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B
- 5
Union University
Jackson, TN · Private nonprofit#6 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 6
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#7 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
- 7
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · Private nonprofit#8 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 8
Milligan University
Milligan, TN · Private nonprofit#9 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 9
Lee University
Cleveland, TN · Private nonprofit#10 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 10
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN · PublicTop 21% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 11
Visible Music College
Memphis, TN · Private nonprofitTop 6% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
- 12
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · Public#13 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 13
Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton, TN · Private nonprofit#15 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 14
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · Public#17 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 15Tie
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 15Tie
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN · Private nonprofit#20 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 15Tie
The University of Tennessee-Martin
Martin, TN · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 18
Johnson University
Knoxville, TN · Private nonprofit#23 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
- 19Tie
Carson-Newman University
Jefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 19Tie
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit#24 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 35%
- 21
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 22
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
- 23
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Athens, TN · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 24
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 25
King University
Bristol, TN · Private nonprofit#35 in Tennessee
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 45%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | About $16,000 | $14,000 | $91,565 | 94% |
| Rhodes College | About $29,000 | $21,761 | $66,651 | 85% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | About $19,000 | $20,500 | $60,249 | 74% |
| Lipscomb University | About $25,000 | $19,500 | $55,541 | 72% |
| Union University | About $27,000 | $20,714 | $53,990 | 66% |
| Belmont University | About $33,000 | $20,500 | $55,930 | 71% |
| Freed-Hardeman University | About $22,000 | $21,500 | $47,485 | 71% |
| Milligan University | About $21,000 | $25,219 | $46,641 | 63% |
| Lee University | About $19,000 | $25,750 | $43,222 | 63% |
| Tennessee Technological University | About $14,000 | $15,650 | $48,501 | 58% |
| Visible Music College | About $28,000 | $9,500 | $35,933 | 23% |
| Middle Tennessee State University | About $13,000 | $20,000 | $48,541 | 54% |
| Bryan College-Dayton | About $21,000 | $23,000 | $54,434 | 50% |
| East Tennessee State University | About $16,000 | $19,442 | $44,859 | 53% |
| Lincoln Memorial University | About $20,000 | $20,000 | $49,956 | 50% |
| Southern Adventist University | About $24,000 | $24,500 | $53,723 | 49% |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | About $11,000 | $21,024 | $44,213 | 53% |
| Johnson University | About $22,000 | $21,500 | $40,596 | 57% |
| Carson-Newman University | About $20,000 | $21,500 | $48,382 | 53% |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | About $17,000 | $18,744 | $49,378 | 53% |
| University of Memphis | About $12,000 | $23,300 | $48,458 | 51% |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | About $14,000 | $19,500 | $51,151 | 50% |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | About $15,000 | $20,000 | $45,989 | 48% |
| Austin Peay State University | About $10,000 | $20,547 | $44,301 | 40% |
| King University | About $22,000 | $22,750 | $59,831 | 48% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 21
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 9
- Arkansas 18
- California 70
- Colorado 13
- Connecticut 19
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 39
- Georgia 38
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 48
- Indiana 39
- Iowa 25
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 18
- Maine 6
- Maryland 18
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 36
- Minnesota 29
- Mississippi 14
- Missouri 38
- Montana 4
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 3
- New Hampshire 10
- New Jersey 23
- New Mexico 4
- New York 82
- North Carolina 42
- North Dakota 8
- Ohio 59
- Oklahoma 20
- Oregon 17
- Pennsylvania 90
- Puerto Rico 12
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 25
- South Dakota 6
- Texas 64
- Utah 8
- Vermont 7
- Virginia 34
- Washington 19
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 27