Cheapest Public Relations Colleges in Tennessee

University of Memphis offers the most affordable path to public relations education in Tennessee at just $13,253 net cost, nearly $19,000 less than Belmont University's $32,096 program. This cost gap reflects a broader divide between public and private institutions across the state's 11 programs. Tennessee's music industry headquarters in Nashville and major healthcare corporations like HCA create strong demand for communications professionals who can navigate both traditional and digital media landscapes. Graduates earn between $26,353 and $36,848 annually, with Belmont and UT-Knoxville alumni commanding the highest starting salaries despite vastly different program costs.

Programs

$13,253 – $32,096

Net Price Range

$32,172

Avg. Program Earnings

61.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

11 Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Programs

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $19,000 cost difference between the cheapest and most expensive programs?

Public universities like Memphis ($13,253) and UT-Knoxville ($18,109) offer significantly lower net costs than private institutions such as Belmont ($32,096). Private schools often provide smaller class sizes and specialized facilities but charge substantially more for similar degree outcomes.

How do graduation rates compare between affordable and expensive programs?

UT-Knoxville achieves a 73.5% graduation rate at $18,109 net cost, while Memphis graduates only 49.4% of students despite costing $5,000 less annually. Belmont leads with 71.7% graduation rate but costs nearly $14,000 more than UT-Knoxville.

Does paying more guarantee higher earnings after graduation?

Belmont graduates earn $36,848 annually, the highest in the state, while Union University graduates earn just $26,353 despite similar program costs around $26,000-$32,000. UT-Knoxville produces the second-highest earners at $36,111 while maintaining moderate costs.

Where do most Tennessee PR programs accept the highest percentage of applicants?

Belmont accepts 96.3% of applicants despite being the most expensive program, while Memphis accepts 94.6% at the lowest cost. Union University maintains the most selective admissions at 52.6% acceptance rate.

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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.