Communication and Media Studies at Belmont University

Among Tennessee's 25 communication programs, Belmont stands alone at the top with first-year earnings of $41,889—placing it in the 95th percentile statewide and nearly $15,000 above the state median. This advantage is real: Belmont grads earn more than those from UT-Knoxville and substantially more than peers at comparable Nashville institutions. Nationally, the program ranks in the 86th percentile, with starting salaries roughly 20% above the typical communications graduate. Nashville's robust media and entertainment industry appears to be paying dividends here.

The financial picture works. At $22,125 in median debt, graduates owe just over half their first-year salary—a manageable ratio that puts them ahead of most communications programs. Earnings grow solidly to $56,043 by year four, a 34% increase that suggests graduates are advancing rather than stalling. While the debt sits in the 73rd percentile nationally (meaning higher than many programs), it's offset by significantly stronger earnings power.

The major caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary more than these medians suggest. But for Tennessee families weighing a communications degree, Belmont's combination of strong industry connections, superior earnings outcomes, and reasonable debt loads makes it the clear in-state leader. You're paying for real marketplace advantage, not just a credential.