2026 Best Value Marketing Schools in Tennessee
[Marketing](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/marketing/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for marketing students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Marketing Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the marketing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Marketing Schools
Leading the list is Middle Tennessee State University, our #1 best value for marketing in Tennessee. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Students borrow a median of $20,708 to complete the marketing program here. Marketing graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median of $43,612 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,708 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned it the #2 place for marketing. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,448, compared with $18,512 for out-of-state students. Marketing graduates carry a median of $23,324 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $50,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga admits about 81% of applicants.
The University Of Tennessee Martin is a great value for students pursuing a degree in marketing, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,560, compared with $16,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $17,548. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Martin generally make around $36,397. That is a strong return on a $17,548 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Christian Brothers University earned it the #4 place for marketing. Set in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,420. Students borrow a median of $32,416 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $51,040. Set against $32,416 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Memphis came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value marketing schools. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. Marketing graduates carry a median of $21,904 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $43,986. That is a strong return on a $21,904 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Tennessee Technological University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value marketing schools. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,376 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,576. Marketing graduates carry a median of $17,425 in student loans. Marketing graduates of Tennessee Technological University earn a median of $39,990 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Austin Peay State University placed #7 among the best values for marketing. Located in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,006, with out-of-state students paying around $14,766. Marketing graduates carry a median of $23,291 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $31,334. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
East Tennessee State University landed the #8 spot for marketing value this year. Set in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,216, with out-of-state students paying around $13,726. Marketing graduates carry a median of $21,819 in student loans. Marketing graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $35,632 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,819 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee Wesleyan College earned the #9 position for value in marketing this year. Set in the town of Athens, Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $30,814 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $29,750. Marketing graduates of Tennessee Wesleyan College earn a median of $58,859 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Tennessee earned the #10 position for value in marketing this year. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,812, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the marketing program here. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $46,896. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Tennessee admits about 42% of applicants.
Cumberland University came in at #11 for value in marketing this year. Located in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,840. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $21,902. Early-career marketing graduates make about $47,696. That is a strong return on a $21,902 median debt. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Freed Hardeman University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value marketing schools. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $25,620 in tuition and fees. Marketing graduates carry a median of $24,479 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $54,530. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value marketing schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,790. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $26,422. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $38,249. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
Southern Adventist University earned the #14 position for value in marketing this year. Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegedale. In-state tuition and fees average $27,300. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $25,498. Early-career marketing graduates make about $61,366. That is a strong return on a $25,498 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Lipscomb University landed the #15 spot for marketing value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,572 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $41,660. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
Union University placed #16 among the best values for marketing. Set in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,398 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the marketing program here. Marketing graduates of Union University earn a median of $38,886 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Belmont University placed #17 among the best values for marketing. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Marketing graduates carry a median of $23,447 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $46,968. Set against $23,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
