Cheapest Journalism Colleges in Tennessee

Public universities dominate Tennessee's most affordable journalism options, with Middle Tennessee State University leading at just $12,599 net cost compared to Belmont University's $32,096 premium price tag. The state's journalism graduates earn between $29,202 and $33,459 annually, positioning them well for Tennessee's growing media market that includes Nashville's music industry publications and Memphis's healthcare communications sector. Eight of the 13 programs cost under $21,000 annually, making quality journalism education accessible across the state. University of Tennessee-Knoxville delivers the highest graduate earnings at $33,459 while maintaining reasonable costs at $18,109 net price.

Programs

$12,599 – $32,096

Net Price Range

$31,331

Avg. Program Earnings

59.7%

Avg. Graduation Rate

13 Journalism Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee	$12,599	$9,506	54.0%	72.5%
2	University of Memphis Memphis, Tennessee	$13,253	$10,344	49.4%	94.6%
3	Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, Tennessee	$14,459	$29,790	54.8%	70.9%
4	Austin Peay State University Clarksville, Tennessee	$14,846	$8,675	44.5%	93.8%
5	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, Tennessee	$18,109	$13,484	73.5%	68.4%
6	Carson-Newman University Jefferson City, Tennessee	$18,661	$34,700	46.4%	79.8%
7	Freed-Hardeman University Henderson, Tennessee	$20,082	$25,000	68.4%	91.2%
8	Johnson University Knoxville, Tennessee	$20,303	$20,318	62.2%	63.2%
9	Lee University Cleveland, Tennessee	$20,399	$22,690	60.7%	72.6%
10	Southern Adventist University Collegedale, Tennessee	$24,334	$25,590	51.4%	65.8%
11	Lipscomb University Nashville, Tennessee	$25,610	$38,824	68.7%	71.1%
12	Union University Jackson, Tennessee	$26,815	$38,450	70.9%	52.6%
13	Belmont University Nashville, Tennessee	$32,096	$41,320	71.7%	96.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Middle Tennessee State University's journalism program such a bargain?

At $12,599 net cost, MTSU offers the state's most affordable journalism education with a 54% graduation rate. The program benefits from proximity to Nashville's media market while maintaining costs nearly $20,000 below the state's most expensive option.

How do earnings compare between Tennessee's cheapest and most expensive journalism programs?

University of Tennessee-Knoxville graduates earn $33,459 annually at a net cost of $18,109, while University of Memphis graduates earn $29,202 at just $13,253. The earnings difference of $4,257 demonstrates that higher costs don't always correlate with better financial outcomes.

Is the graduation rate gap significant between public and private journalism programs?

Private schools show notably higher completion rates, with Union University leading at 70.9% compared to public universities averaging around 50-55%. However, public programs offer substantially lower costs, with all four public options under $19,000 net price.

Where do Tennessee journalism graduates find the best career opportunities?

Nashville's music industry creates demand for entertainment journalists and publicists, while Memphis offers healthcare communications roles. Tennessee's lack of state income tax means journalism graduates keep more of their $29,202-$33,459 salaries compared to other states.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.