Accreditation Information

The Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is one of the premier schools in the country, with graduates working at a multitude of companies from: Nike, Twitter, Ralph Lauren, Disney, Scripps Network, YVMLY&R, Tombras Group, Anomaly, and more.

With state-of-the-art facilities including the Adam Brown Social Media Command Center (ABSMCC), the Scripps Lab, and the Message Effects Lab—the Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations provides a unique experience for students within our majors. The school offers internship services to pair students within their field of interest from a variety of agencies and corporations across the country.

Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) information

Reported Fall 2026

Undergraduate Enrollment (Mass Communication Majors)*

Fall ’26Fall ’25Fall ’24Fall ’23Fall ’22Fall ’21
Advertising250335307282217187
Public Relations307324289246230219

*Total major numbers are based on 14th-day enrollment data. 

Fall 2022 Cohort – Graduation Rates

4th Year Graduation5th Year Graduation6th Year Graduation
Advertising78.9%0.0%0.0%
Public Relations80.8%0.0%0.0%

Fall 2021 Cohort – Graduation Rates

4th Year Graduation5th Year Graduation6th Year Graduation
Advertising92.9%92.9%TBD
Public Relations87%87%TBD

Fall 2020 Cohort – Graduation Rates

4th Year Graduation5th Year Graduation6th Year Graduation
Advertising73.1%90%84.6%
Public Relations83.3%91.7%91.7%

Average 1st year retention rates – college-wide

Fall 2020–Fall 202189.5%
Fall 2021–Fall 202285.1%
Fall 2022–Fall 202392.1%
Fall 2023–Fall 202492.1%
Fall 2024–Fall 202592.7%
Fall 2025-Fall 202696.1%

1st-Year Retention Rates by Major

MajorFall 2025-Fall 2026Fall 2024–Fall 2025Fall 2023–Fall 2024Fall 2022–Fall 2023Fall 2021–Fall 2022Fall 2020–Fall 2021
Advertising92.3%100%100%89.5%92.9%92.3%
Public Relations96%90.5%84.2%92.3%95.7%95.8%