Communication and Media Studies at Lipscomb University

Among Tennessee's 25 communication programs, Lipscomb lands right in the middle—60th percentile—but the comparison to top programs tells a more sobering story. Students here earn $31,767 in their first year, roughly $10,000 less than peers at Belmont or UT-Knoxville. They're also starting with $21,253 in debt, which is slightly below both state and national medians but still represents two-thirds of that modest first-year salary. Nationally, this program ranks in just the 32nd percentile, meaning most communication graduates elsewhere are earning more.

The real challenge is that $31,767 salary, which falls short of Tennessee's median for the field. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 isn't alarming on paper, it means managing significant monthly payments on what amounts to an entry-level income in one of media's most competitive job markets. The small graduate sample (under 30) adds uncertainty—a few outlier outcomes could swing these numbers considerably in either direction.

For families considering private tuition at Lipscomb, the comparison to UT-Knoxville's program is hard to ignore: similar outcomes but likely at a fraction of the cost. Unless Nashville's media connections or Lipscomb's specific network offers clear advantages for your student's career goals, this represents a significant financial commitment for middle-of-the-pack results.